Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- August 27, 2014

ISIS And Obama's Dilemma: Would He Be Helping Assad In Syria Airstrikes? -- Meagan Fitzpatrick, CBC News

The U.S. says it would not co-operate with Syria if it proceeds with airstrikes against ISIS

Around this time last year, U.S. President Barack Obama's secretary of state, John Kerry, was calling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a "thug and murderer" after evidence indicated chemical weapons were used against his own people.

The way the White House was talking, it seemed airstrikes to punish Assad were inevitable, but then Obama diverted the final decision to Congress, saying he wouldn't act without approval. In the end, a Russian proposal to get rid of Syria's chemical weapons resolved the debate about whether the U.S. should drop bombs on the wartorn country.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- August 27, 2014

Bashar Al Assad Is Laying a Deadly Ambush for Obama in Syria -- Fred Hof, New Republic

Partnering with Syria’s Assad Against ISIL Will Preserve His Rule -- Daniel Wiser, Washington Free Beacon

ISIS: 5 things to know about the Iraqi jihadist group -- CBC

Israel believes it's developing regional support for hurting Hamas -- Christa Case Bryant, CSM

Gaza truce holds as Israelis debate what was won and lost -- Laura King & Batsheva Sobelman, L.A. Times

A Grim Stalemate at War's End in Gaza -- Dan Perry, AP

Analysis: What Has Gaza-Israel Cease-Fire Changed? Not Much -- Ayman Mohyeldin, NBC

Hamas Facing Palestinian Criticism: 'Why did they have to provoke Israel?' -- Abraham Rabinovich, Washington Free Beacon

Pakistan faces a major political crisis: 6 things to know -- Taha Siddiqui, CSM

Nigeria 'needs to undertake deep reforms' in the fight against Boko Haram -- Deutsche Welle

African caliphate 'likely to succeed' -- Michael Carr, WND

Libya’s Proxy Apocalypse -- Jemmie Dettmer, Daily Beast

How NATO Could Confront the Putin Doctrine -- David Francis, Foreign Policy

NATO’s Beens Looking for Arguments to Go East Since 1991 - Experts -- RIA Novosti

'Yes' or 'No'? A Divided Scotland Confronts Independence Vote -- Christoph Scheuermann, Spiegel Online

Douglas McAuthur McCain: What was lure of Islamic State for him – and others? -- Anna Mulrine, CSM