Outside the Beltway

Why do we persist in going to war?

Former SecDef Robert Gates is among those who believes that the Iraq War unduly diverted attention from fighting the War On Terror.

A new book by former SecDef Robert Gates is making political waves in Washington power circles, but will it matter to ordinary Americans?

The Iraqis need to learn to govern themselves, and conservatives blaming President Obama for renewed violence need a history lesson.

The IDF has finally put a woman in command of a battalion. They’re decades behind American forces.

If you’re still not convinced that we lost the war in Iraq, this should settle the argument.

The Marine Corps’ plan to make women take the same fitness test as men has hit a wee snag.

The “paper of record” joins the call for some kind of deal with Edward Snowden.

The New York Times Benghazi report raises as many questions as it purports to answer.

.Many have tried to justify N.S.A. data mining on the theory that it could have prevented 9/11. Is that true?

The “good war” no more.

More details.

Another Federal District Court ruling on the Constitutionality of the NSA’s data mining program, this time more favorable to the NSA.

In a new interview, Edward Snowden explains his motives for absconding from the country with NSA secrets.

Newly disclosed details about the US role in Colombia.

Michelle Howard has become the highest ranking woman in the history of the US Navy–and the US military, period.

Does a determination that NSA data collection practices are likely unconstitutional mean that Edward Snowden’s actions were, in some sense, justified?

A potentially big legal setback for a big National Security Agency program.

Without a deal of some kind, it’s quite likely that Edward Snowden will remain beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement or some time to come.

Apparently, the security at Tuesday’s memorial for Nelson Mandela was so lax as to be nearly non-existent.

For veterans who get in trouble with the law, *when* they commit a crime can have profound implications on their future. Does this make sense?

Some 2000 veterans of World War II were lobotomized by the VA. That’s awful but not outrageous.

Democracy was nice while it lasted.

There are many choices in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program there are many choices, but some are better than others.

The U.S. position on China’s new air defense zone is exceedingly clear. The question is where it goes from here.

You know the Defense budget is getting tight when we can’t spare a few measly fighter planes to escort an imaginary character.

A new poll finds the American public far less supportive of the idea of the U.S. as the world’s policeman.

Dana Milbank offers a nonsensical reason for denying our youth the freedom to choose their own path.

Even as it defies China’s illegal territorial claims with military flights, the Obama administration is urging US airlines to comply.

The opponents of the temporary deal reached in Geneva have been making some ridiculous historical analogies.

China sends a message, and the U.S. responds. What happens next is anyone’s guess.

Some Members of Congress are talking about pushing a bill imposing new sanction on Iran despite the deal reached in Geneva yesterday.

Small steps from both sides in the Iranian nuclear negotiations, but too early to say that we’ve reached a solution.

A leaked internal email has the Army in hot water with feminists.

The juxtaposition of two stories in the Marine Times strikes me as odd.

Without hard choices on pay and benefits, the Pentagon will have to make big cuts in readiness.

An unusual challenge to the NSA’s data mining program reaches its expected end in the Supreme Court.

Does the Attorney General really think advocacy is a crime?

A story that has turned into a partisan kickball and some bad journalism have resulted in a celebrated news program getting considerable egg on its face.