Outside the Beltway

The Russian autocrat is emboldened.

The United States has less press freedom than 54 countries. Or does it?

While the West dithers, Russia is doubling down.

The BBC’s security correspondent thinks so.

Vladimir Putin is banning commodity exports.

It’s hard to see how this crisis ends.

Deterring Russia is a matter of principle.

The first shoe has dropped.

The much-anticipated escalation has happened. Now to see how the United States and its allies respond.

This could be a very big deal – unless it isn’t.

The President is blaming Democrats for the fact that so many of his Ambassadors have not been confirmed. The truth, of course, is quite the opposite.

The dispute over Ukraine between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Patriarch is widening and nearing the point of a complete break.

Last week, the Polish President floated the idea of a permanent U.S. military base in Poland. It’s a bad idea no matter how you look at it.

The arguments in favor of a permanent U.S./NATO base in Poland are not very convincing.

Poland makes the U.S. and NATO an offer they might want to consider refusing.

The President’s new attempt to ban transgender Americans from serving in the military is as legally defective as the original ban was.

The British prime minister and outgoing US Secretary of State declared a red line crossed. There’s no reason to think this White House will follow through.

The Defense Department will reportedly recommend to President Trump that transgender members of the service currently serving in the military be allowed to continue serving.

After a long wait, gays and lesbians in Australia have achieved marriage equality.

The Trump Administration has reportedly finalized its order to the Defense Department regarding a ban on military service by transgender soldiers.

Just about two weeks after being announced, the President’s proposed ban on military service by transgender troops is being challenged in Court.

Vice-President Pence is advocating the admission of Georgia into NATO. That would be a bad idea.

A step backward on civil rights from a President who claimed he would be a friend to the LGBT community.

My latest is out at RealClearDefense.

A controversial retired General has been tapped to be President-Elect Trump’s top White House foreign policy voice.