Strauss-Kahn Case Falling Apart Over Accuser Credibility

Remember Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the arrogant French aristocrat whose career was ended by a courageous chambermaid, shedding light on a corrupt social system? A funny thing happened on the way to the slammer.

Pakistan Boots U.S. From Drone Base We Weren’t Using Anyway

Our good ally Pakistan has publicly ordered us to leave a base used for “covert” CIA drone attacks.

Gaddafi and the ICC: Meaningless, Unfair, or Both?

The selective application of international law is here to stay.

North Korea Famine: Starving Soldiers

Australia’s ABC News has video smuggled out by an activist showing widespread famine in North Korea, including filthy children begging in the streets and evidence that even soldiers are not getting enough to eat.

Vote Gaddafi out?

Is Gaddafi offering a way out?

What’s up with Chávez?

The normally loquacious Chávez has been almost silent since emergency surgery in Cuba on June 10th.

Party and Country

Ppartisan politics no longer stops at the water’s edge. This is a bad sign for the Republic.

Obama’s GPS

Florida Today’s Jeff Parker offers this take on President Obama’s Afghanistan “drawdown,” which will culminate in getting American forces down to Bush era levels by the end of 2012.

The Ebb and Flow of Coca Cultivation

Coca cultivation is down in Colombia! But guess what is true about Peru?

Majority Of Americans Want Troops Removed From Afghanistan ASAP

As the President prepares to announce his plans for the future in Afghanistan, a majority of Americans want the troops home now.

Vancouver Riot Kiss Scott Jones and Alex Thomas by Rich Lam Vancouver Riot Kiss Scott Jones and Alex Thomas by Rich Lam

Does Privacy Still Exist?

When everyone can record video at any time and post it for all the world to see, is there such a thing as privacy anymore?

Guns and Democracy

Is it reasonable to state that countries with less guns are more likely to become tyrannical than countries with more guns?

Christians More Militant Than Muslims!

Trevor Phillips, chairman of the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission, says fundamentalist Christians are a far bigger problem than Muslims. And, no, he’s not anti-religion.

Dutch to Outlaw Kosher and Halal Slaughter

The Netherlands is considering a new animal cruelty law that would effectively ban kosher and halal slaughter practices.

Ex-Spy Says Bush Administration Tried To Use CIA To Discredit Blogger

An ex-CIA agent says that someone in the Bush White House tried to use the agency to “discredit” Iraq War critic Juan Cole.

Kissinger Praises Huntsman, Declines Endorsement

Despite one headline to the contrary, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger did not endorse Jon Huntsman as our next president today.

Syria and the Do Something Syndrome

Ousting evil dictators is harder than it looks.

Pakistan Arrests CIA Informants Linked to Osama Raid

The ISI appears to have shown a special interest in informants that helped the CIA find bin Laden.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Boehner Gives Obama Until Friday To Justify Libya Mission

The House GOP and the White House moved one step closer to a constitutional confrontation, but is it much ado about nothing?

Will Republicans Nominate a Dove?

WaPo’s Jackson Diehl asks, “Will the GOP nominate a dove?”

Is the U.S.-European Relationship Really in Decline?

My latest piece for The Atlantic, “Is the U.S.-European Relationship Really in Decline?” is posted.

Chart of the Day: Biggest Military Spenders

The US spends a lot on defense relative to, well, the rest of the world.

AKP Retains Majority in Turkish Elections

Turkey has had elections, and the ruling AKP has retained a majority in parliament. The next major issue appears to be constitutional reform.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Congress vs. Obama on Libya

The War Powers Act’s 90 day limit is in sight. Will Congress force the president’s hand?

Is Obama Bullying Israel on Peace Talks?

The United States is pressuring the Netanyahu government to move off its hard line.

Is the Syrian Military Fracturing?

It appears that the Syrian military is starting to fracture. Exactly how widespread this is remains to be seen.

Hillary Clinton World Bank President?

Hillary Clinton is actively lobbying to be the next president of the World Bank, Reuters reports.

America’s Newest Secret War, Or The Same One We’ve Been Fighting For Ten Years?

American drone strikes in Yemen are intensifying. Is this a new war. or just the same one we’ve been fighting since October 2001?

Is Mitt Romney’s Religion Still An Issue? Or, Why We Need To Separate Religion And Politics

Some people still think Mitt Romney’s religion is a relevant issue.

Reagan’s Question Looms For Obama

Are you better off than you were four years ago?