Jaw-Jaw With Iran -- Fred Kaplan, Slate

We are likely going to blow the deadline in the Iranian nuclear negotiations. But why not just keep talking?

It seems very unlikely that the Iran nuclear talks will result in a comprehensive deal by Nov. 24, the deadline set a year ago, when an interim accord was reached. So what to do now? Should the West call the whole thing off, erase the tentative détente with Iran, return to unrelieved tension, and allow the mullahs to escalate their nuclear program with no controls or inspections, leading to a possible regional arms race or war? Or should the talks be extended?

Put that way, one should hope for an extension. Fortunately, there’s also a good case for going that route.

First, a review of what’s been happening with these talks—and what’s at stake for all sides.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- November 20, 2014

For many Iranians, nuclear talks aren't about the sanctions -- Scott Peterson, CSM

Why ISIS is spreading across Muslim world -- Peter Bergen and Emily Schneider, CNN

Congress must debate the wisdom, or folly, of using force against the Islamic State -- L.A. Times editorial

Three assumptions about the Middle East that are just plain wrong -- Orit Bashkin, Reuters

What’s the Plan? The NATO Coalition in Afghanistan -- Jason Campbell, War On The Rocks

How UN's N. Korean resolution divides main players -- Hyung-Jin Kim, AP

Uncertainty at home brings calm to the Thai–Cambodian border -- Nicole Jenne, European University Institute/East Asia Forum

Why are China and Thailand scared of the ‘Hunger Games’? -- Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post

Is 2014 the Start of an Asian Spring? -- Nithin Coca, The Diplomat

As Taiwan prepares to vote, China peers closely over its shoulder -- Julian Baum, CSM

City at war (Karachi) - where a police officer is killed every day -- Mobeen Azhar, BBC

Russia: A wounded economy -- The Economist

As protests rage, what can Mexico do to stop more students from going missing? -- Emily Pickrell, CSM

Teeth and Bones: Mass Abduction Reveals a Decaying Mexican State -- Marian Blasberg and Jens Glüsing, Spiegel Online

Cheap-Oil Era Tilts Geopolitical Power to U.S. -- Rich Miller, Bloomberg

Is the Cold War Back? -- Richard Fernandez, PJ Media

The 25 Best Inventions of 2014 -- Time