Outside the Beltway

A true, albeit largely anonymous, hero of humanity has passed away.

With President Obama becoming the first American President to visit Cuba in 88 years, a new poll finds majority support for his changes in Cuba policy.

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions became the latest prominent Republican to endorse Donald Trump, but there are a lot more Republicans who are starting to panic over what Trump could do to their party.

For now at least, the Bush Dynasty has seen the end of its involvement in national politics.

The godfather of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine has passed.

Another hopeful step forward, thanks to diplomacy.

Good news for Jason Rezaian and four other Americans, and another example of how diplomacy can help resolve disputes that seemed irresolvable.

Ten American sailors detained by Iranian forces late Tuesday were released early today, something that seems to clearly demonstrate the value of diplomacy.

France’s President has spent the week trying to forge and agreement on an anti-ISIS policy, but the two nations that matter the most also disagree the most.

John Kasich wants the United States Government to create an agency to spread ‘so-called ‘Judeo-Christian values.’

Republicans haven’t really moved beyond the legacy of George W. Bush’s failed Administration as much as they’d like to think, but it doesn’t seem to be hurting them very much.

After an eleven hour day on Capitol Hill, it was Hillary Clinton 1 House Benghazi Committee 0.

What was promoted as major foreign policy speech by Donald Trump turned out to be more substance-free stream-of-consciousness rambling from an egomaniac.

President Obama’s confrontational approach to opponents of the Iran Nuclear Deal ignores legitimate questions.

In bringing Holocaust imagery into the debate over the Iran nuclear deal, Mike Huckabee has displayed the intellectual bankruptcy of his position.

Good news for the President.

The U.N. Security Council has approved the Iranian nuclear deal, and now the ball is in Congress’s court.

There are mutual embassies in Havana and Washington for the first time in 54 years. It certainly took long enough.

Trips to the airport will now be even more fun.

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.

Conditioning an Iranian nuclear deal on recognition of Israel is foolish, unrealistic, and very bad diplomacy.

One freshman Senator seems to think that war with Iran would be easy, just like Republicans used to think that war against Iraq would be easy.

The Iranian nuclear accords are barely 24 hours old and some people have already made up their mind about them.

Talks in Geneva have reached a framework agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program that, if it’s complied with, appears at first glance to be about the best deal available under the circumstances.

Yet another probable rift between the U.S. and Israel over Iran.

Senate Republicans have done more harm to the goal of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons than they have done good.

The Atlantic has a fascinating cover story by Graeme Wood titled “What ISIS Really Wants.”

The State Of The Union Address was more of the same, and the same will be true of Washington going forward.

Some are criticizing the President for not going to Paris for yesterday’s rally.

There are again reports of Chinese frustration with the Kim regime in North Korea, but change is unlikely to happen in the DPRK until Beijing is ready to let it happen.

Two potential candidates for the Republican nomination in 2016 traded barbs this week over the President’s new policy toward Cuba.

The resumption of diplomatic relations between U.S. and Cuba, and expansion of some commercial trade ties, is historic but it’s only the first step toward the goal of ending an outdated embargo.

The Supreme Court will decide if Congress can override American foreign policy when it comes to declaring who has dominion over Jerusalem.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul continues to challenge Republican orthodoxy on foreign policy, and that’s a good thing.

The sixth year of a presidency leads to some predictable commentary (and some comparative notes).

Everyone knows that Israel has had nuclear weapons for decades. Don’t tell anyone—it’s a secret.

The Obama Administration’s legal justification for war against ISIS is laughably flimsy.

As talk begins of expanding the war against ISIS into Syria, it is becoming long past time for Congress to exercise its Constitutional function.

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

George Will has come under criticism for pointing out what seems to be an undeniable fact.

Rick Perry and Rand Paul are highlighting what looks to be a coming battle inside the GOP over foreign policy.

More than any other language, English words are being adopted, and transformed, by other languages.

The Kentucky Senator and former Vice-President are at the front of a battle that will unfold inside the GOP as we head toward 2016.

If President Obama does decide to use military force in Iraq, he should be required to seek Congressional approval beforehand.

Barring shocking developments, General Joe Dunford will be the 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps.

There’s little evidence for the conservative contention that the President has damaged America’s position in the world.

Yet another autiobiography invites public discussion about her accomplishments.