Outside the Beltway

America’s much touted international coalition against ISIS is, essentially a Coalition In Name Only.

President Obama has apparently come to the same realization as many of his predecessors, that trying to craft a legacy by single-handedly bring about “Middle East Peace” is largely a waste of time.

As Ben Carson rises in the polls, it’s worth noting his many examples of having what can only be called a very odd relationship with truth and the basic facts of history.

American intelligence officials are saying that a Russian passenger jet that went down over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula was most likely brought down by a bomb.

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

For the first time since 1961, there will soon be an American Embassy in Havana, and a Cuban Embassy in Washington. It’s well past time that this happened.

Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first truly-elected president, has been sentenced to death by the government which ousted him in a coup.

Chinese analysts are telling their American counterparts that North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is far more sophisticated than previously believed.

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

More than ever before, even mild criticism of Israel seems to be verboten among Republicans.

The gang calling itself the Islamic State has destroyed another historical site.

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

The intrepid foreign correspondent and editor Arnaud de Borchgrave has died, aged 88, of cancer.

ISIS apparently now has a foothold in Libya, and is making inroads in Yemen.

A big change in an important nation in the most volatile part of the world.

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

Vice-President Cheney’s amoral defense of torture has come to define how most conservatives view the issue, and that’s a problem.

Well, so much for that “people’s revolt” that brought down a military dictator.

Who should own antiquity?

The Khorasan Group is, functionally, al Qaeda. Or is it?

While the world pays attention to Syria and Iraq, Yemen is once against lurching into chaos.

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

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

The two sides in Gaza keep extending the humanitarian cease fire, but remain miles apart on the major issues dividing them.

Well, it was nice while it lasted.

The war in Gaza seems to be winding down, but the underlying issues remain.

A glimmer of hope in Gaza is quickly snuffed out.

The Israeli public if overwhelmingly behind the war in Gaza, and that means it will probably continue for awhile.

Hopes for a temporary respite in the Gaza conflict faded away today.

The next phase of Israel’s attack on Hamas has begun.

An effort yesterday to bring about a cease fire in Gaza came to naught when Hamas rejected the proposal.

A US-EU free trade zone is a no-brainer. But the devil is in the details.

The First World War played an intriguing role in the birth of the radical Islam we are dealing with today.

Yet another autiobiography invites public discussion about her accomplishments.

Different name, same result in Egypt.

Once again, President Obama’s attempt to communicate a foreign policy vision falls short.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is a name we’re likely to be seeing in the news for some time to come.

Diplomatic word games.