Global Conflicts: Examining the Options

Israel vs. Palestine: Different This Time Around

Israel-Palestine, erupting again. This feels like very old news. From a distance, the current fighting between Israel and Hamas — the Palestinian faction that rules the small and highly populated Gaza Strip — seems much like the hostility the region has known for decades. But this time, it’s different — because this time, the two are at war just as the surrounding Middle East descends into total turmoil. And when everything abates, the two sides will end up even further from an agreement than they have been for years. Here’s what has changed, what’s at stake and what the future holds. Read the story here.

What’s Happening to American Power?

Power: It’s what Americans instinctively associate with their country’s role in the world. In fact, most Americans have grown up assuming that the United States is the world’s leading power and will remain so. But with the Middle East spinning out of control, Russia challenging the European order, terrorism surging again and China aggressively expanding its influence in Asia, it’s fair to ask: Is the sun setting on the so-called Pax Americana? Is our power draining away? To lead in any manner in this new world, we must set our internal priorities in order. And even then, we must be prepared to lead in an altogether different way. But all things aren’t equal. And on our constantly dynamic planet, a few factors could tip the balance of power irrevocably — and these are factors on the homefront.  Read the story here.

 

 

What a Divided Iraq Would Look Like

Iraq as we know it is in danger. Which means it’s time to start thinking about what the nation would look like if it does disintegrate, and consider what policy challenges would then confront the world. Though Iraq’s three major ethnic groups — Sunnis, Shia and Kurds — live in generally distinct geographic regions, there will be nothing neat or clean about a breakup. A split won’t calm political waters nor will it bring near-term stability. And for U.S. policy? The already labyrinthine geopolitical puzzle will become even more maddeningly complex. A former deputy director of the CIA breaks it down into what would happen in each of Iraq’s three ethnic enclaves. Read the story here.