Outside the Beltway

A new Pentagon proposal would place more discretion in the hands of field commanders, removing the need for Presidential approval.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions apparently misled Senators when asked about his contact with Russian officials.

My latest is out at RealClearDefense.

It was both the best speech Trump has ever given and the worst presidential address I can recall

Reports indicate that President Trump will seek to increase military spending. We don’t need to, and we can’t really afford it.

A military judge has rejected a motion to dismiss the case against Bowe Bergdahl based on comments made by Donald Trump when he was a candidate for President.

Donald Trump’s job approval numbers are the lowest for any new President since World War II. That doesn’t bode well for his Administration’s future.

Budget hawks in the GOP face a showdown with Donald Trump’s spending ambitions this year that will likely decide whether we’ll ever get spending under control.

President Trump has actually made a good pick for National Security Adviser. As with the rest of his foreign policy team, though, the question is if he’ll listen to him.

Chaos inside the Trump Administration is causing people to turn down lucrative positions.

The story about the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia didn’t start with Michael Flynn, and it isn’t going to end with his resignation.

Could Donald Trump’s comments about Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on the campaign trail lead to the case against Bergdahl being dismissed? A military judge will have to decide.

North Korean Intrigue…….

With two votes last night, President Trump’s Cabinet is coming together.

An unsurprising ‘resignation’ from the shortest-serving National Security Adviser in history.

Could National Security Adviser Michael Flynn be the first to go under Trump?

Stephen Miller said something very stupid on “Meet The Press” this morning.

Trump’s combination amateur hour/tough guy approach is not going to make the world a safer place, nor will it advance US national interest.

After a highly contentious nomination process, Jeff Sessions was confirmed last night as the new Attorney General of the United States.

By the end of last night’s oral argument, at least two of the three judges hearing the appeal of the stay on the President’s Muslim travel ban appeared to be skeptical of the Federal Government’s arguments.

Two new polls show that most Americans oppose President Trump’s ban on travel from seven majority Muslim countries, but that most Republicans support it.

An initial setback for the Federal Government in its appeal of the ruling putting President Trump’s Muslim travel ban on hold.

Donald Trump’s initial job approval numbers are lower than any President since the EIsenhower Administration.

A legal victory, at least for now, for opponents of Donald Trump’s ban on immigration from seven majority Muslim nations.

In a closer than normal vote for the position, Rex Tillerson has been confirmed as Secretary of State.

The first day of implementation of President Trump’s order barring immigration from certain Muslim nations did not go smoothly for the Administration.

As expected, Donald Trump yesterday signed Executive Orders targeting Muslims and refugees.

Despite campaign promises, President Trump appears to be putting off any immediate decision on the location of the U.S. Embassy to Israel.

The 117 CIA officers who have died in our service should not be used to score cheap political points.

This will get people killed. Quite likely, including American citizens.

A speech traditionally used to unite was instead a continuation of a divisive campaign.

The mystery of what happened aboard Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 may remain at the bottom of the Indian Ocean forever.

A potentially controversial commutation from President Obama today.

While you were celebrating Christmas, Israel was blasting the Obama Administration and cozying up to the incoming Trump Administration.

Survivors and family members of the Pulse Nightclub attack have filed what amounts to a frivolous lawsuit.

Ambassador Karlov is mostly likely not a modern day Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Another attack in what has been a bloody 2016 for Europe.

Delegating the morning briefing to advisors isn’t actually that unusual.

The situation in the Middle East just potentially became much more complicated.

A controversial member of George W. Bush’s foreign policy team is up for a post in Donald Trump’s State Department.

The head of the biggest energy company in the world is reportedly Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of State.

Good thing the world is a static, simple place…

New information raises serious questions about the integrity of the 2016 elections, and about Donald Trump and his supporters.

Three of the top four national security positions in Donald Trump’s Cabinet will be filled by retired Generals. This isn’t necessarily a good thing.

I’m in the New York Times’ “Room for Debate” with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Duke’s Peter Feaver.

Another name may be on the short list for Secretary of State.