Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced that many Russian troops have left Ukrainian territory, raising hopes that the current cease fire may yet deepen and take hold. Despite violations of the cease fire, Poroshenko has announced plans to give the eastern parts of Ukraine far greater autonomy, although not the independence that many of the rebel separatists have demanded. The pullback comes as the EU announced a waiting period before implementing new sanctions on Russia, so we will have to see whether or not the withdrawal can be fully verified. But if true, it will be hard to dismiss the possibility that the threat of sanctions actually achieve its objectives.
A new poll suggests that 71% of the American people support air strikes against the Islamic State, a dramatic increase from similar polls in the last few months. The widely publicized beheadings conducted by the Islamic State no doubt contributed to the change in sentiment, but it is hard to articulate a dramatic change in the possible threats posed by the Islamic State to the US homeland. The discrepancy between real and imagined threats in this case is quite striking. The change also reflects an easier path for US President Obama, although the obstacles to effective military actions against the Islamic State remain.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino has asked the Congress to approve a law that would extend create a more autonomous province for the Muslims in the southern part of the country. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has waged a long struggle against the central authority of the Philippines for many years, and the death toll of the war is likely more than 120,000. The new agreement will replace a previous experiment in greater autonomy that proved unsatisfactory to both sides, so it is difficult to be optimistic about the new agreement.
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The press release from Pew doesn’t tell me what is meant by “threat”. Al Qaeda and ISIS are no “existential” threat to the US. Perhaps to some particular citizens, but hopefully not to the statehood of the USA (Are we that weak?). Whereas global warming does present a threat to our statehood.
But if it is meant as potential danger to the individual respondent, infectious disease is by far the biggest threat.
I imagine N. Korea’s nuclear program is what you mean by “imagined threat.” Laugh. Out. Loud.
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You are absolutely correct–no where is threat defined. Which is the reason why I am suspicious of the poll (imagined is an important word in the post). I am truly worried about the 4th war in the Middle East in 23 years. Not a good record.
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