Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 24, 2017

David Gilbert, VICE News: Advancing: Iraqi forces recapture ISIS-held airport and military base in western Mosul

Iraqi forces made significant gains Friday in their mission to retake Mosul, taking back total control of the city’s airport as well as the Ghazlani military camp. Having already captured the eastern part of the city, Iraqi forces are now focusing their efforts on retaking the west, where entrenched Islamic State fighters remain well-armed. The terrorist organization is trying to hold onto its last major urban stronghold in Iraq.

Iraqi forces, backed by coalition forces and U.S. air support, pushed into Mosul’s western Mamun neighborhood on Friday, where they were immediately met with intense gunfire from IS militants. One captain in Iraq’s emergency response division told the BBC inside western Mosul: “We very close to liberating Mosul.”

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 24, 2017

What To Look For in Trump’s 30-Day ISIS Review -- Paul D. Shinkman, US News and World Report

Battered Mongolia faces make-or-break moment -- Ken Koyanagi, Nikkei Asian Review

South Korea's Dangerous Leadership Vacuum -- Benjamin Lee, The Diplomat

North Korea's use of nerve agent in murder sends a deliberate signal to foes -- Julian Borger, The Guardian

China's North Korea Problem -- Hannah Beech, New Yorker

China Moves to Put North Korea in Its Place -- Rodger Baker, Stratfor

Analyst: North Korea coal trade with China operated on 'kickbacks' -- Elizabeth Shim, UPI

As US-China tussle, Asean frets -- Richard Javad Heydarian, Asia Times

Fears of Trump giving China free rein in East Asia misplaced -- Doug Tsuruoka, Asia Times

The Philippines Criticizes China -- Jacob L. Shapiro, Geopoltiical Futures

If Zuma isn’t ousted South Africa faces ruin -- Jenni Russel, The Times/The Australian

Exclusive: How money flowed to Gambia's ex president -- Edward McAllister and Emma Farge, Reuters

As famine threatens, an unprecedented global challenge – and response -- Peter Ford, CSM

A German Clash over Trump's NATO Demands -- Konstantin von Hammerstein, Spiegel Online

It might be time to create an international terrorism court -- Ignacio De La Rasilla Del Moral, The Conversation

What on Earth Is Going On With the Stock Market? -- Derek Thompson, The Atlantic