REF/RL in the Media
# Jan Nowak-Jeziorański: A Sketch for a Portrait, neweasterneurope.eu
# Azerbaijan to Arrest Investigative Journalist Khadija Ismayilova?, eurasianet.org
Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Afghanistan and America: Don’t let history repeat itself – editorial, Economist
# Don’t forget about Afghanistan – Anna Borshchevskaya, Huffington Post
# Afghanistan Is Not Out of the Woods Just Yet – Arif Rafiq, NI
# David Cameron makes surprise visit to Afghanistan for talks with new president, Telegraph
# Bottomless Pit: U.S. Balks at Bills for Afghanistan’s Treacherous Salang Tunnel, WSJ
# Bombing in Pakistan and a Wave of Attempts Point to a New Drive by Militants, NYT
Caucasus
# Pride And Prejudice In Georgian Food Consumption, georgiatoday.ge
# After NATO Wales Summit – Consequences for Georgia, georgiatoday.ge
# Religious minorities in Georgia shortchanged due to prejudice, dfwatch.net
# Armenia-Azerbaijan: ‘The benefits of peace are abundant’ – Vugar Seidov, Al-Jazeera
Central Asia
# A sea vanishes: Satellite photos show disappearing Aral Sea, rappler.com
# The SCO and Regional Dialogue – Casey Michel, The Diplomat
Iraq/Syria
# They Sent Me to Iraq. Then They Ignored Me. – Christopher R. Hill, Politico
# The Islamic State: Delivering Islam’s Reformation? – Cheryl Benard, NI
# Who Really Lost Iraq?, WSJ
# Leon Panetta blows whistle on lies about Iraq – Jennifer Rubin, WP
# Islamic State presses offensives in Iraq, Syria; defenders call for more airstrikes, WP
# Turkey MPs back military involvement in Iraq and Syria as Isis advances, Guardian
# 5,500 Iraqis Killed Since Islamic State Began Its Military Drive, U.N. Says, NYT
# Islamic State influence spreads beyond Iraq and Syria, USA Today
Iran
# Iran, the Thinkable Ally – Roger Cohen, NYT
# Iran and the West: Rohani’s outstretched hand, Economist
# America’s Real Problem in Iran: Ayatullah Khamenei – Michael Crowley, Time
# Top House Lawmakers Raise Concerns on Iran Nuke Access, WSJ
# Fighting ISIS shouldn’t mean appeasing Iran – Clifford D. May, National Post
# Iran nuclear talks: why Tehran must be brought in from the cold – Christopher de Bellaigue, Guardian
# Diplomacy with Iran is the only good option – Erica Fein, The Hill
Russia
# Russia’s 5 Most Lethal Weapons of War in the Water – Kyle Mizokami, NI
# Russia and America Both Think They Can Win a New Cold War, – John Allen Gay, NI
# Russian Dissident Opens New Chapter in His Anti-Putin Movement NYT
# Putin Trumpets Economic Strength, but Advisers Seem Less Certain, NYT
# Russia’s economy: On the edge of recession, Economist
# Emperor Putin’s War on the Truth- Simona A. Morrison, NYT
# Russia Must Be Punished for Breaking the Rules – Vasily Gatov, MT
# The hidden cost of freezing Russia out of finance – Gillian Tett, FT
# Russia Government ‘Will Intervene’ In Currency Market To Save Ruble, Forbes
# Russia’s budget and Siluanov’s odd assumptions, Guardian
# Putin Is Winning: EU Backs Away From Ukraine Trade Pact; U.S. On The Sidelines – Paul Roderick Gregory, Forbes
Ukraine
# Will the Ukraine Crisis Tank Europe’s Fragile Economy? – James W. Carden, NI
# World Bank: Ukraine GDP to shrink 8% this year, BBC
# Ukraine crisis: Shell kills four at Donetsk school, BBC
# Rebels Test The Strength Of Ukrainian Ceasefire, – Doug Schoen, Forbes
Of Interest
# Former defense secretary Panetta drones Obama Iraq policy in new book, WP
# A United Ukraine, in Photographs, NYT
…
