Reuters (December 20)
“As soon as he’s inaugurated on Jan. 20, Trump will face a crucial decision: Will he continue the Pentagon’s support and training for the coalition of Syrian rebel groups which is leading a ground offensive to oust Islamic State?” While “the fledgling Trump administration wants to avoid becoming mired in Syria’s complicated war, and has signaled that it wants Russia to continue taking the lead… other powers might try to drag Washington deeper into the conflict, or use it to project strength, or to distract Trump from other goals, such as his insistence on dismantling the Iran nuclear deal.”
Tags: Coalition, Conflict, Decision, Iran, Islamic State, Nuclear deal, Pentagon, Rebel, Russia, Syria, Trump, War
Chicago Tribune (August 8)
“For Japan, where there’s such pressure to maintain things the way they are, the decision to retire is even bigger. This has the making of an unmistakably modern moment: trying something new, even if it feels uncomfortable. Japan should thank Emperor Akihito for his unexpected decision and wish him a long, happy retirement.”
Tags: Decision, Emperor Akihito, Japan, New, Pressure, Retire, Uncomfortable, Unexpected
