Wednesday, April 5 , 2017

Assad's Barbarism; U.S.-Middle East Relations; North Africa Politics; Terrorism in Russia; The Road to Brexit; European Elections; Asian Economic Outlook; South America Politics and Policy.
Quote of the Week:
"The United States strongly condemns the chemical weapons attack in Idlib province, the third allegation of the use of such weapons in the past month alone," Secretary Rex Tillerson said in a statement. "It is clear that this is how Bashar al-Assad operates: with brutal, unabashed barbarism. Those who defend and support him, including Russia and Iran, should have no illusions about Assad or his intentions. Anyone who uses chemical weapons to attack his own people shows a fundamental disregard for human decency and must be held accountable."
War in Syria
"A New Level of Depravity, Even for Bashar al-Assad" The Editorial Board -- The New York Times, April 4, 2017


"What Could Possibly Motivate a Chemical-Weapons Attack?" Thanassis Cambains -- The Atlantic, April 4, 2017

"Western Agencies Scramble to Obtain Samples from Syria Chemical Attack" Martin Chulov, Kareem Shaheen and Jennifer Rankin -- The Guardian, April 5, 2017
U.S.-Middle East Relations
"Can Trump End the War in Syria?" Colin Kahl, Ilan Goldenberg, and Nicholas Heras -- Foreign Policy, March 29, 2017

" Perfect Timing to Raise the Tone on Iran " Heshmat Alavi -- Forbes, April 1, 2017

"U.S. Military Should Get out of the Middle East"  Jeffrey D. Sachs -- The Boston Globe, April 3, 2017

North Africa Policies
" It's Time to Take a Hard Look at the U.S. Relationship with Egypt " Robert Kagan and Michele Dunne -- The Washington Post, April 2, 2017

" The Failed Serraj Experiment of Libya " Wolfgang Pusztai -- Atlantic Council, March 31, 2017

"Why Painful Economic Reforms Are Less Risky in Tunisia Than Egypt" Amr Adly and Hamza Meddeb -- Carnegie Middle East Center, March 31, 2017
Terrorism in Russia
"Russia: The Ghost of a Terrorised Past" Leonid Ragozin -- Al Jazeera, April 4, 2017

" How Russia Became the Jihadists' No. 1 Target " Colin P. Clarke -- POLITICO Magazine, April 4, 2017

"The St. Petersburg Bombing: Why It Won't Bring America and Russia Together" Nikolas K. Gvosdev -- The National Interest, April 4, 2017
The Road to Brexit
" Dark Democratic Dysfunction " Charles Kupchan -- US News, March 29, 2017

" Article 50 and the Great Repeal Bill Are Only the Beginning " Robin Niblett -- Chatham House, March 29, 2017

"Why Private Equity Is Sweating Brexit" Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli -- POLITICO Europe, April 4, 2017
European Elections
" Moscow Eyes the French Elections " Mackenzie Weinger -- The Cipher Brief, March 29, 2017

" Armenian Elections: The Prelude to a Pivotal Political Transition " Richard Giragosian -- European Council on Foreign Relations, March 30, 2017

"Does Germany Hold the Key to Defeating Populism?" Samuel Huneke -- The Atlantic, March 29, 2017
Economic Outlook in Asia
" Severing China-North Korea Financial Links " Anthony Ruggiero -- CSIS, April 3, 2017

" Seoul Reports Beijing's Mandarin Imperiousness to WTO " Mark Seo -- Foreign Policy Association, April 1, 2017

"Indonesia's Unfolding Corruption Scandal" Neil Thompson -- The Diplomat, April 3, 2017
South America Politics and Policy
" Colombia Leads the Developing World in Signing the First Social Impact Bond Contracts " Emily Gustafsson-Wright and Izzy Boggild-Jones -- Brookings Institution, March 31, 2017

" International Pressure on the Maduro Regime " Matthew Taylor -- Council on Foreign Relations, April 3, 2017
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