WPR Articles March 23, 2015 - March 27, 2015 Despite Falling Energy Prices, Arctic Oil Exploration Likely to Continue By: The Editors | Trend Lines The U.S. Department of the Interior is due to decide this week if Royal Dutch Shell can restart drilling for oil off the coast of Alaska after it was forced to shut down operations in 2012. In an interview, Robert Huebert, an associate professor at the University of Calgary, discussed Arctic drilling amid the slump in global oil prices. The Italian Plan: EU Mulls Overseas Asylum Centers in Migrant Policy By: Maria Savel | Trend Lines The EU intends its recently launched European Agenda on Migration to be a comprehensive new policy approach to trafficking, labor migration and asylum issues. But the potential inclusion of overseas asylum centers, proposed by Italy, has many concerned about the human rights and legal ramifications. International Pressure Could Still Turn the Tide on Mekong Dams By: Richard P. Cronin | Briefing Last year, Laos announced it would go ahead with the second of two massive dams on the Lower Mekong River over the objections of its neighbors. Despite these contentious decisions, however, the widespread fear that up to 11 ecologically devastating dams are inevitable is looking less and less certain. Venezuela Sanctions Undo Gains of U.S. Policy of Restraint By: Frida Ghitis | Column Venezuela is one country where U.S. foreign policy under President Barack Obama had struck the right tone—until a few weeks ago. The Obama administration has issued an executive order targeting top Venezuelan officials for sanctions, playing directly into President Nicolas Maduro’s hands. Nile Deal Signals Regional Reset Among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia By: Alex de Waal | Briefing A preliminary agreement between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on sharing the Nile is about a lot more than water. It may signal a seismic shift in the politics of northeastern Africa and could lead to a new axis of cooperation to manage, it not resolve, conflicts in one of the world’s most turbulent regions. More Can the U.N. Deliver for Obama on Iran, Israel-Palestine Deals? By: Richard Gowan | Column Barack Obama’s influence on the future of U.S. foreign policy is shrinking as he nears the end of his presidency. But he might use his leverage over U.N. diplomacy to push through deals on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iran’s nuclear program. If he does, the U.N. could struggle to deliver. Term-Limit Tensions Raise Stakes for Togo’s Presidential Ballot By: Kamissa Camara | Briefing On April 15, Faure Gnassingbe will be seeking a third term as Togo’s president. Though permitted by Togo’s constitution, his candidacy is contested by the opposition, concerned by what it calls the “confiscation of power” by a man whose family has ruled the country for over 40 years. Hidden Cruelties: Prison Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa By: Martin Schönteich | Feature As in other parts of the world, most prison systems in sub-Saharan Africa are abusive. This article looks at examples from Uganda, Sierra Leone, Namibia and South Africa in order to better understand the challenges facing the continent’s prison systems and the possible paths to reform. Spoilers Emerge as Iran Nuclear Talks Reach Delicate Endgame By: Richard Weitz | Column With the deadline for a framework agreement on Iran’s nuclear program fast approaching, critical players have been expressing opposition to a deal they perceive as too lenient. In this context, the role played by Russia and China in the negotiations could prove critical for the success of any deal. To Secure FARC Deal, Colombia’s Santos Must Face Down Uribe By: Michael Shifter | Briefing Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos appears to be in the final stretch toward reaching a peace agreement with the FARC. The main concern now is that Santos’ immediate predecessor, former President Alvaro Uribe, has been relentless in his opposition to an eventual accord. For Iran Nuclear Deal, All Scenarios Amount to Leap of Faith By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column Will there be a draft of a final agreement to end the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program by the self-imposed deadline at the end of this month? Moreover, is such an agreement a good idea? How one answers these questions depends on one’s perception and tolerance of risk.   Labor, Human Rights Concerns Make Satellite Campuses a Risky Choice By: The Editors | Trend Lines A professor from New York University was recently barred from entering the United Arab Emirates, where the school has a new campus, after he criticized the country’s labor practices. In an interview, Stephen Wilkins of Plymouth University discussed the challenges facing Western satellite campuses. CAR Still Haunted by Ethnic Divisions as It Tries to Build Peace By: The Editors | Trend Lines In the wake of recent violence in the Central African Republic, the United Nations announced today that it is sending an additional 1,000 peacekeepers to the war-torn country. In an interview, the Brookings Institution's Amadou Sy discussed the political and security situation in CAR. Like It or Not, U.S. Needs Iran to Stabilize the Middle East By: Judah Grunstein | Briefing Differences between the U.S. and Israel over a deal on Iran’s nuclear program reflect how recent changes in the Middle East have created a fundamental divergence of U.S. and Israeli strategic interests. Far from being transient, the resulting disconnect is destined to be enduring. Staffing the Future U.S. Military Will Require Thinking Outside the Box By: Steven Metz | Column Since the creation of the all-volunteer force in 1973, finding enough recruits has been a constant challenge for the U.S. military. While the problem has been unfolding for several years, the military now faces an impending crisis as the services find it harder and harder to fill their ranks.