Looking ahead to 2020: Standoffs, abuse, hope

World Tribune by John J. Metzler / December 31, 2019 NEW YORK — Peering into the crystal snow globe, it’s time to predict, prognosticate and presage into the year ahead.  Without a pun we need the proverbial 2020 vision to decipher the political and security landscape that awaits us in the new year with both long running static conflicts and newly unpredictable crises. Here are among the things we can expect. Static Conflicts Syria’s devastating civil war enters its 9th year with no clear end in sight but continuing as a churning humanitarian Hell for millions.  Few can imagine the sanguinary killing zone that has slogged on since 2011. The UN…