Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 20, 2017

An Afghan flag flutters next to a U.S. flag as a U.S Chinook helicopter flies over Panjshir province on July 24, 2011. Ahmad Masood / Reuters

Barry Posen, The Atlantic: It's Time to Make Afghanistan Someone Else's Problem

A full withdrawal will force Iran, Russia, and others, to step up.

The Trump administration, as well as its critics, are reportedly wrestling with the question of a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, where the government has shown no signs of being able to turn the tide in the 16-year war against the Taliban. General John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, with support from Secretary of Defense James Mattis and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, has asked for more troops, apparently in service of a strategy that, for the moment, seeks simply to “not lose.” President Trump has granted this request in principle, but these reinforcements have not yet been dispatched, because the president's advisors seem to believe that he is not committed to stay the course. Instead, a strategic review is underway. Meanwhile, Senator John McCain has offered his own strategy for Afghanistan, which appears to be the “old” strategy, with the admixture of a commitment to stay forever and provide the commanders with a blank check for forces and money to do so.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 20, 2017

U.S.-China relations, 6 months into the Trump presidency: Still in search of a strategy -- Jeffrey A. Bader, David Dollar, and Ryan Hass, Brookings

Trump’s Negotiation from Strength -- Patrick M. Cronin, RCD

Planning for Korean Reunification -- Lee Jong-Wha, Project Syndicate

The real revolution in NKorea is rise of consumer culture -- Eric Talmadge, AP

South China Sea: Beijing Raises the Temperature Again -- Euan Graham, Lowy Institute

Balochistan: Spiral into chaos -- Muhammad Akbar Notezai, Dawn

“Neutral” Somalia finds itself engulfed in Saudi Arabia-Qatar dispute -- Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, African Arguments

Q&A: What’s Next for Kenya After Presidential Elections? -- US Institute of Peace

Angola on cusp of change after 40-year journey from Marxism to crony capitalism -- Jason Burke, The Guardian

Stop Poking the Russian Bear -- Robert W. Merry, National Interest

Bosnia's Sordid Independence -- Alexander Clapp, National Interest

Bolivia's Morales Goes Down an Ugly Road -- Mac Margolis, Bloomberg

What to Do With Venezuela? -- J. Weston Phippen, The Atlantic

Socialism – not oil prices – is to blame for Venezuela’s woes -- Kristian Niemietz, CapX

The Real Lesson of the Barcelona Attacks -- Daniel McCarthy, National Interest

Terror in Spain Shows Islamic State Is Down Not Out -- Tobin Harshaw, Bloomberg

The World May Soon Split in Two Trading Blocs—Here’s How to Position Your Portfolio -- Patrick Watson, Maulden Economics

America Can't Afford to Lose the Artificial Intelligence War -- Michael O'Hanlon & Robert Karlen, National Interest

The Meaning of the Eclipse -- Bloomberg editorial