As 2017 draws to a close, it is difficult to be optimistic about what
will be coming in the new year. The American President, whose margin of
victory was certainly based on his pledge to avoid unnecessary wars, has
doubled down on Afghanistan, refuses to leave Syria even though ISIS
has been defeated, and is playing serious brinksmanship with a
psychopathic and unpredictable regime in Pyongyang. The White House has
also bought into the prevailing largely fabricated narrative about a
Russia and has decided to arm Ukraine with offensive weapons, which has
already resulted in a sharp response from Moscow and will make détente
of any kind between the two leading powers all but impossible in the
upcoming year.
