Current Events Reading: 2/01

Please read and come prepared to discuss the following articles in the latest edition of the Economist:

• The World This Week: Politics
• Europe
• Britain and Europe: the Gambler
• Europe and Britain: the Cameron is Coming 
• Charlemagne: Europe's Odd Couple
• Radical Islamism
• International Terrorism: Afrighanistan?
• Jihad in Africa: the Danger in the Desert
• The Intervention in Mali: Sand on Their Boots
• Israel
• Israel's Election: the Hawk's Wings Are Clipped
• Israel's Arab-led Parties: Not Much of a Mark

As you read, take notes and prepare to discuss the role that identity, norms and class conflict play in each story.

NATO Deploys Anti-Missile Tech to Turkey-Syria Border

Source: Wikipedia

According to RT, NATO--the alliance that the US built to counter the Soviets in the early years of the Cold War--has deployed Patriot anti-missile technology to the Turkey-Syria border.

The deployment is ostensibly to insulate Turkey, a NATO ally, from the violence in Syria (which did briefly spill over into Turkey last fall).

The deployment raises questions about the value of the NATO alliance. Without a Soviet threat, NATO must find other threats to respond to or fade into irrelevance. But is it good for the US to be entangled in an alliance that could draw the nation into yet another conflict in the Middle East?

Read the article, and share your carefully considered and factually supported opinion for participation points.