The Rundown -- October 2

# Radio Free Europe back on frontline over Ukraine, AFP
# 9 attempts to explain the crazy complexity of the Middle East, WP
# Azerbaijan: OCCRP Partner Journalist Threatened With Arrest hetq.am
# Jailed Azerbaijan activist awarded human rights prize, Guardian

Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Paying Afghanistan’s Bills - editorial, NYT
# The Women of Afghanistan Must Not Be Forgotten - Ida Lichter, Huffington Post
# Can China and India Cooperate in Afghanistan? - Edward Schwarck, The Diplomat
# A Strategic Scorecard For Afghanistan - Christopher D. Kolenda, FP
# Taliban Stage Attacks on Day After Afghanistan and U.S. Sign Security Deal, NYT
# Pakistan struggling to cope with surge in polio cases, Guardian

Iraq/Syria
# How America Helped ISIS - A. Thompson, J. Suri, NYT
# Who Will Profit From the Wars in Iraq and Syria? - William Hartung, Stephen Miles, Huffington Post
# Iraq air strikes: RAF Tornados fire four missiles at Isis vehicles in overnight attack, Independent
# In the war against Isis, we have much more powerful weapons than bombs - Samuel Horti, Independent
# 6 Reasons ISIS Airstrikes Aren't The Next Iraq War, Huffngton Post
# 'It seemed inconceivable that anything should be left standing', Telegraph

Iran
# How Iran Scammed America Out of a Nuclear Deal - David Frum, The Atlantic
# Iran: Stop Woman’s Execution, HRW
# Iranian filmmakers launch campaign urging nuclear deal, BBC
# When It Comes To ISIS, Iran Isn't The Solution -- It's Part Of The Problem - Amir Basiri, Forbes
# Netanyahu warns Obama: Iran must never be a 'threshold nuclear power', Telegraph
# Russia and Iran Lock NATO Out of Caspian Sea, The Diplomat

# Baku Hits Back at Award for Jailed Democracy Activist, eurasianet.org

# The Georgian model of libertarianism and its applicability to Ukraine - Vladimer Papava, dfwatch.net

Central Asia
# Kazakhstan: Lawsuits Over Same-Sex Kiss on Poster, HRW
# Russia-Dependence Roils Central Asia’s Fuel Markets, eurasianet.org
# Uzbekistan: Turf War in Tashkent? eurasianet.org

Russia
# TASS takes Russia's oldest news service back to the U.S.S.R., LAT
# Russia Needs More Internet Security, Says Putin, WSJ
# Russia’s local elections: a sign of things to come?, - Leonid Peisakhin WP
# Stoltenberg Takes Over at NATO With Conciliatory Tone Toward Russia, WSJ
# Fighting intensifies in Ukraine as pro-Russian rebels move on Donetsk airport, WP
# IMF Slashes Russia's 2015 Growth Forecast, WSJ
# Sanctions on Russia are starting to bite, Telegraph

# Most Russians See Western Sanctions as Attempt to Undermine Russia, MT

# EU Rebukes Russia for Ukraine Tariff Threat, WSJ

# Ukraine Will Have to Live With Putin's Delusions - Alexander Motyl, Huffington Post
# New Nato chief Stoltenberg urges Russian rethink on Ukraine, BBC

# Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels clash over Donetsk airport, Guardian
# Poland's New Premier Signals Shift in Ukraine Policy, WSJ
# Facts distorted as Moscow claims hundreds of bodies discovered in Ukrainian 'mass graves', Telegraph

# With Ukraine On Europe's Side, E.U. Worries About Russian Trade Barriers, Forbes

# Ukraine’s ‘frozen’ conflict still flaring, FT
# Sobotka rejects Schwarzenberg’s proposal to help Ukraine against Russia, Prague Post