Outside the Beltway

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Trump’s Peace Deal May Prove Short-Lived

· Tuesday, October 21, 2025 · 17 comments

The hostages have been released, but the war appears back on.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Trump Takes Victory Lap as Israeli Hostages Freed

· Monday, October 13, 2025 · 13 comments

All 20 living hostages have been released and the bodies of others are slowly being returned.

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Trump Peace Plan to Be Implemented as Negotiations Continue

· Thursday, October 9, 2025 · No comments

A pause in fighting, release of hostages, and then . . . ?

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Hamas Agrees To Release Hostages But Wants Further Negotiations

· Saturday, October 4, 2025 · 11 comments

A No masquerading as a Yes to Trump’s peace deal.

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Trump Offers Hamas Take It Or Leave It Peace Deal

· Tuesday, September 30, 2025 · 11 comments

Netanyahu will take it.

The Free Speech Presidency Rolls Onward

· Saturday, September 27, 2025 · 1 comment

Colombia’s President said the wrong thing and had his visa revoked.

Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuated

· Tuesday, September 9, 2025 · 35 comments

The inevitable has finally arrived.

Israel Bombs Hamas Leaders in Quatar

· Tuesday, September 9, 2025 · 14 comments

BREAKING NEWS

Genocide, War Crimes, and Gaza

· Wednesday, August 13, 2025 · 45 comments

There are no satisfying answers.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room. President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

Israel To Retake Gaza City

· Friday, August 8, 2025 · 12 comments

The seemingly inevitable next step.

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France Recognizes Palestine

· Friday, July 25, 2025 · 42 comments

Responding to tragedy with farce.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room. President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

Did Netanyahu Prolong the Gaza War To Save Himself?

· Friday, July 11, 2025 · 26 comments

A long exposé misses the mark.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a recorded message. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a recorded message.

Khameini Declares Victory

· Thursday, June 26, 2025 · 45 comments

Iran came “this close” to ending the Zionist regime.

On Propaganda and Childish Politics

· Wednesday, June 25, 2025 · 30 comments

Team Trump and the DIA assessment of the Iran bombings.

US Attack Likely Set Iran Nuke Program Back Mere Months

· Wednesday, June 25, 2025 · 31 comments

The preliminary DIA assessment has been leaked.

Social Media Diplomacy?

· Tuesday, June 24, 2025 · 15 comments

Is that really a good idea?

Was Bombing Iran Legal, Redux

· Tuesday, June 24, 2025 · 19 comments

For all practical purposes, the Constitutional war powers have been stood on their head.

Ceasefire in Iran War

· Tuesday, June 24, 2025 · 34 comments

This phase seems to be over. [Or maybe not!]

How Effective Were U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities?

· Monday, June 23, 2025 · 88 comments

Maximalist claims are almost surely overstated.

Iran Votes to Close Strait of Hormuz

· Sunday, June 22, 2025 · 32 comments

What? Retaliation from Iran?

Vance: We Used to Have “Dumb Presidents”

· Sunday, June 22, 2025 · 22 comments

Well, I feel better now.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the situation room during the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the situation room during the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites.

U.S. Bombs Three Iranian Nuke Sites

· Sunday, June 22, 2025 · 33 comments

The war is on.

Israel-Iran War: What’s the End State?

· Saturday, June 21, 2025 · 39 comments

Thinking about possible outcomes.

They Don’t Teach IR in Sunday School

· Friday, June 20, 2025 · 6 comments

Cruz on supporting Israel.

Trump Has Approved Iran War Plans

· Thursday, June 19, 2025 · 35 comments

Whatever that means.

Right Wing Media On Iran In 2025 Sounds A Lot Like It Did On Iraq In 2002/3

· Wednesday, June 18, 2025 · 33 comments

We’re officially past rhyming and into history (or at least rhetoric) repeating.

Ali Khamenei's visit to the exhibition of achievements of the IRGC Aerospace Force 19 November 2023 Ali Khamenei's visit to the exhibition of achievements of the IRGC Aerospace Force 19 November 2023

Iranian Leadership in Turmoil

· Tuesday, June 17, 2025 · 28 comments

The loss of many key leaders in short order is a serious problem.

Regime Change in Iran

· Monday, June 16, 2025 · 34 comments

Trump and Netanyahu do not see eye to eye on the matter.

Israel Strikes Iranian Nuclear Program

· Friday, June 13, 2025 · 72 comments

The war is on.

Sec Def Peter Hegseth Jokes About Afghanistan Allies

· Thursday, June 12, 2025 · 8 comments

Spoiler alert: the joke wasn’t funny

Israel May Attack Iran Soon

· Thursday, June 12, 2025 · 28 comments

A major escalation in Middle East tensions is forecast.

Terror Attack in Boulder

· Monday, June 2, 2025 · 33 comments

The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

Awful Things Are Happening

· Sunday, June 1, 2025 · 17 comments

Terrorism in Colorado. Continued awful violence in Gaza.

President Donald Trump signs the guest book at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) President Donald Trump signs the guest book at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

Trump Middle East Tour Incites Envy in Iran

· Sunday, May 18, 2025 · 14 comments

The country’s citizens are enduring power outages while Saudis are making deals for cutting-edge technology.

A 1,000 Words or So on Human Rights

· Saturday, May 17, 2025 · 11 comments

A snapshot from Saudi Arabia.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks on 'Investing in America', Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Cross Hall of the White House. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on 'Investing in America', Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Cross Hall of the White House.

Trump: Ending Wars is Hard

· Saturday, May 10, 2025 · 26 comments

Who could have known?

Israel’s Next Move

· Thursday, March 27, 2025 · 17 comments

Will the Netanyahu government double down on its weakening of Iran?

Israel Preparing to Execute Trump Non-Plan For Gaza

· Thursday, February 6, 2025 · 70 comments

A little ethnic cleansing coming right up.

Trump and Gaza

· Tuesday, February 4, 2025 · 44 comments

More outrageous behavior.

Gaza Ceasefire Deal Made in Cooperation with Biden and Trump Teams

· Thursday, January 16, 2025 · 21 comments

Deadlnes make deals.

Fighting to Control Syria

· Wednesday, December 11, 2024 · 31 comments

The fall of the Assad regime is the end of the beginning.

Assad Regime Toppled

· Sunday, December 8, 2024 · 27 comments

A fifty-year dictatorship has been ousted. What now?

Iran Retreats From Syria

· Saturday, December 7, 2024 · 23 comments

Another setback for Teheran.

Rebels Retake Aleppo

· Saturday, November 30, 2024 · 16 comments

Another huge blow against Iranian’s regional strategy.

Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire

· Wednesday, November 27, 2024 · 34 comments

Peace, for a time.

Gaza After Sinwar

· Saturday, October 19, 2024 · 26 comments

Has the calculus of either side changed?

Biden, Harris Push to End Gaza War

· Friday, October 18, 2024 · 41 comments

Is Sinwar’s assassination an opening?

Yahya Sinwar Killed in Gaza

· Thursday, October 17, 2024 · 31 comments

Another one bites the dust.

The Middle East War No One Wanted

· Wednesday, October 2, 2024 · 24 comments

After years of proxy battles, Israel and Iran are on the brink of a direct fight.

Iran Fires ~180 Missiles at Israel

· Tuesday, October 1, 2024 · 12 comments

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