Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 22, 2021

President Joe Biden, Germany's Angela Merkel, and France's Emmanuel Macron addressed the Munich Security Council virtual special event, Fri., Feb. 19, 2021. SCREENSHOT OF MUNICH SECURITY COUNCIL

Kevin Baron, Defense One: Biden Wants to Restore NATO. Macron Is Looking to Move On

The two leaders appeared to talk past each other at this week’s Munich Security Conference.

President Joe Biden came to office promising to renew the spirit of the Western alliances born after World War II. It’s his deliberate rejection of the Trump-and-Brexit era of hyper-nationalism and the America First bullying that has beleaguered Europe for five years.

“I’m sending a clear message to the world: America is back. The transatlantic alliance is back,” Biden said in a Friday speech streamed from the White House to Western leaders listening in at this year’s virtually-held Munich Security Conference. “And we are not looking backward, we are looking forward — together.”

But are they?

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 22, 2021

Biden’s Russia Policy Will Be Shaped by His Priorities, Not Just His People -- Paul Saunders, Russia Matters

Biden’s horrific excuses for Beijing’s Uighur genocide -- NYPost editorial

Will Biden’s Iran Diplomacy Become a Shakespearean Tragedy? -- Robin Wright, The Atlantic

Biden says he will listen to experts. Here is what scholars of the Middle East think. -- Marc Lynch and Shibley Telhami, Brookings

Is there any chance we can pull out of Afghanistan on time? -- Doyle McManus, LA Times

Joe Biden’s China Strategy Risks Going Too ‘Extreme’ -- Bonnie Kristian, National Interest

Does China really threaten US power abroad? -- Andrew Latham, Asia Times

China Is the Myanmar Coup’s ‘Biggest Loser’ -- The Atlantic

Myanmar’s coup regime cut of old military cloth -- Bertil Lintner, Asia Times