The Rundown -- November 18

# U.S. pursuing ‘dual policy’ toward Afghanistan: Karzai khama.com
# The Berlin Wall and the clash of ideology Intro ... Sundaytimes.lk

Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Female Afghan politician Shukria Barakzai survives suicide bomb attack on her car, Independent
# Before the Beheadings - Jefferey Goldberg, The Atlantic
# Challenges to Pakistan's National security - Saima Afzal, Eurasia Review
# Kajaki: Turning a remarkable Afghanistan escape into a film, Independent

# Darkening Tangle - Ajit Kumar Singh, SATP

Central Asia
# Kazakhstan Benefits From Russia's Misfortune, Moscow Times

Iraq/Syria
# If you thought the Isis war couldn't get any worse, just wait for more of the CIA - Trevor Timm, Guardian
# Illogical Logic of Our Iraq Policy - Munir Moon, Huffington Post
# Good News From Iraq: ISIS Setbacks, WSJ
# Why the Myth of “Winning” the Iraq War Is So Harmful - Daniel Larison American Conservative
# CIA intelligence gap hinders counter-terrorism efforts in Syria, Iraq, LAT
# Why the 2007 surge in Iraq actually failed - Alex Kingsbury, Boston Globe

Iran
# Why an Iran Deal Must Be Sealed Now - Moritz Pieper, Moscow Times
# Public Grieving for Pop Singer Is Startling for Iran, NYT
# Viewpoint: How Iran and world powers can reach nuclear deal - Seyed Hossein Mousavian, BBC
# Doubts about a nuclear deal with Iran as talks near deadline, WP

# Iran Nuclear Pact Faces an Array of Opposing Forces, NYT

# Is Russia an Asian Power? - Anton Tsvetov, The Diplomat
# Object 2014-28E – Space junk or Russian satellite killer?, FT
# Poland, Russia in Tit-For-Tat Diplomatic Expulsions, WSJ
# Crimea, Chechnya and Putin's Double Standards - Andrew Foxall, Moscow Times
# Masha Gessen's Facebook Rant Shows Core Problem of Russian Journalism - Mark Adomanis, Moscow Times

# The west must be tough on Putin – but it may take a generation to bring Russia back - John Kampfner, Guardian

Ukraine
# Ukraine voted – now what?, visegradinsight.eu

# Poroshenko says Ukraine prepared for ‘total war’ as casualties mount, Kyiv Post

# Eastern Ukraine Braces for ‘Full-Scale War’, Daily Beast
# Ukraine: EU fails to agree on new Russia sanctions, BBC
# Obama Says Russia’s Arming of Separatists Breaks Pact With Ukraine, NYT

# Angela Merkel warns Russia could seek to destabilise 'whole of the European peaceful order', Telegraph

# Modern slavery affects more than 35 million people, report finds, Guardian