Next Cold War Roundup 4/4/16 A New York Times editorial refers to Ukraine as a “corrupt swamp” and slams the Poroshenko government. Free Syrian Army “moderate” rebels teamed up with al Nusra (al Qaeda branch) to launch an offensives in Aleppo and Latakia resulting in Syrian coalition counteroffensives and Russian

Next Cold War Roundup 4/1/16 Long overdue editorials from the New York Times, Guardian and widespread western media coverage of the war and suffering in Yemen. Battles continue there and US airstrikes on al Qaeda’s expansion of territory in southern Yemen. VP Biden promised $335 million for Ukraine’s military at

Next Cold War Roundup – 3/30/16 American military and diplomatic families were ordered to evacuate Incirlik air base in Turkey and two other locations.  Syrian president Assad says Syria is not ready for federalism and the Syrian opposition demands that a transitional government controlled by them should take over.  China,

Next Cold War Roundup 3/28/16 When a story about different flavors of US proxy ground forces in Syria fighting each other is going viral, perhaps it is not the best time for the Pentagon to push for more troops in the Middle East. But that is what’s happening.  More details

Next Cold War Roundup 3/25/16 Syrian forces close in on the main city of Palmyra as various hills and sites are recaptured including an important citadel today. Iraqi military command says the long battle for Mosul has officially begun. US military involvement in Iraq continues to grow as games are

Next Cold War Roundup 3/21/16 John Kerry arrived in Moscow for talks tomorrow on Syria and Ukraine during which he plans to again pressure that “Assad must go” after Russia’s partial withdrawal. Ukraine has reneged on the Minsk agreement and is pushing for changes in their obligations as a decision

Next Cold War 3/18/16 The EU is wrangling with Turkey over an agreement to take back migrants and change their laws in exchange for political and financial rewards and calls out EU for their support of terror groups and treatment of migrants. Turkey is under pressure from a number of

Next Cold War Roundup 3/16/16 Geneva talks are on. Russia does a surprise semi-withdrawal from Syria, leaving a well equipped Syrian coalition but increasing pressure on Assad to compromise. The US brings to the table a weakened position on the ground but a threat of a Turkish invasion and the

Next Cold War 3/14/16. Geneva peace talks resume today.  A Syrian rebel group claims responsibility for shooting down a Syrian fighter jet in a Hama airfield.  Experts disagree on whether rebels used MANPADS missiles or anti-aircraft guns to shoot it down. Another suicide bombing attack occurred in Ankara, which the

Next Cold War Roundup 3/11/16.  The Obama Doctrine and the Underside of Buses _ A very long read in the Atlantic by Jeffrey Goldberg, “The Obama Doctrine,” is based on an interview with Pres. Obama, describes a president with a “natural reticence toward getting militarily ensnarled”, mismatched with his hawkish and/or