Outside the Beltway

In what seems to be a clear signal to Russia, the U.S. is considering pre-positioning military equipment in nation’s very close to Russian borders.

Voters in Ireland have overwhelmingly approved a referendum legalizing same-sex marriage.

Pollsters on both sides of the Atlantic have been trying to figure out why the polls released right up until the eve of the British General Election were so wrong. Here’s one theory, and it’s very compelling.

Fresh off an election victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to propose a series of new measures to crackdown on extremism that raise serious civil liberties concerns.

With the election behind him, David Cameron’s biggest problems may be yet to come.

A plan to distribute migrants from the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa across the entire European Union seems destined to cause political conflict.

The just-concluded British General Election was also a clash between two former top advisers to President Obama.

Largely in reaction to revelations about N,S.A. surveillance, Germany has cut back on its intelligence cooperation with the United States.

Yet another attack on religious freedom in Europe.

A cease fire deal in Ukraine, but a long term settlement will require compromises from both Moscow and Kiev.

At least 11 are dead and 10 wounded in an attack on free expression.

For a year that started out with regaining long-lost territory in Ukraine, 2014 is not ending so well for Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Russia’s own government is projecting that its economy will slip into recession next year. How that will impact Putin’s current belligerence remains to be seen.

Black Friday chaos has crossed the pond.

Vladimir Putin’s latest actions seems to have exhausted Germany’s patience.

Germany’s new defense minister has promised a more robust role but lacks the ability to back her words with action.

Now on to solving the complex puzzle of the post-referendum UK.

One of these ballots is legit. The others, not so much.

The thought they’d win big and silence the Scottish separatists. They were wrong.

Thoughts on the Scottish referendum (and on the issue of thresholds and decision-making).

Despite the President’s assurances of an international coalition, the rest of the world doesn’t seem all that interested in joining the fight.

Bestiality and prostitution are legal in Denmark. And not just separately.

Alabamians like to exclaim, “Thank God for Mississippi.” Perhaps it’s time for that slogan to cross the Pond.

The rebels in eastern Ukraine continue to suffer setbacks, and Russia is massing troops on the border again.

Institutional reform does take place in other democracies.

Scottish independence may be more likely than many think.

The U.S. and Europe have announced a new round of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, but it’s not clear that the Russians will be motivated to change course.

History matters.

If you live in Russia, you’re getting a different version of the story of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

Vladimir Putin has become immensely popular in Russia again, and its not hard to figure out why.

Yesterday’s events are likely to be a game changer, but how the game plays out depends largely on how Europe reacts.

Basically, the answer is that nobody really thought there was much of a risk that a plane could be shot down.

Someone took down a Boeing 777 over Ukraine today.