What, Exactly, Does Uttering The Words “Radical Islamic Terrorism” Accomplish?

Republicans insist that uttering the words “Radical Islamic Terrorism” is somehow important in the fight against ISIS and other terror networks, but it is entirely unclear what doing so would accomplish.

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Thanks To Pandering And Fearmongering, Syrian Refugees Are Now Pawns In American Politics

Syrian refugees have quickly become political footballs in the United States in the wake of the Paris attacks, and it’s become an exceedingly shameful display of pandering and fearmongering by a group of largely Republican politicians.

Russia Confirms Metrojet 9268 Brought Down By Bomb

Confirming speculation that had already been all but confirmed, we now know that it was a bomb that brought down a Russian passenger jet on October 31st.

Even After Paris, A Syrian No-Fly Zone Is A Foolish Idea

In the wake of the attacks in Paris, there’s a strong impulse to do “something,” but that doesn’t mean we should do something utterly foolish. And a no-fly zone would be utterly foolish.

The 2016 GOP Race And The Battle To Define What ‘Conservative’ Means

Much more so than in the past, the race for the Republican Presidential race has become a battle to define what it means to be a ‘conservative.’ Especially on issues like immigration and national security, one side seems to be winning the battle.

France Strikes ISIS As Investigation Into Paris Attacks Continues

France launched its first attacks against ISIS even as the investigation into Friday’s attacks continues, but it’s not clear that the retaliation really accomplished anything.

The GOP Candidates And The Attacks In Paris

The initial responses of the Republican candidates for President to the attacks in Paris are about what you’d expect, but it’s far too early to tell what impact the events of the weekend will have on the race for President here in the United States.

The Paris Attacks Have Made The Syrian Refugee Crisis Much More Complicated

The news that at least some of the men who were involved in the terrorist attacks in Paris were among the refugees who have arrived in Europe since the summer is likely to complicate an already complicated situation.

Attack on France Is an Attack on the United States

We are legally, morally, and practically obligated to respond. Let’s not do so stupidly.

Democrats Debate In The Shadow Of The Paris Attacks, And Iowa Football

A Saturday night debate wasn’t likely to get much attention to begin with. A Saturday night debate in the wake of a major terrorist attack, and a major football game for Iowa’s premier college football team, likely got even less attention. That’s probably good news for Hillary Clinton, and bad news for her two remaining rivals.

Something to Consider Going Forward

We can draw a rather direct line from the Iraq war to the rise of ISIS.

A Night Of Terror In Paris

Reports of at least up to sixty dead, a hostage situation, and attacks at multiple locations in Paris.

Another Trump Speech Leads To Another Round Of ‘Is Trump Imploding?’ Speculation

Donald Trump’s latest tirade has led to another round of speculation as to whether or not he’s ‘gone too far’ and reached the beginning of the end of his campaign. Don’t count on it.

Ben Carson’s Incoherence And Ignorance On Foreign Policy Should Be Disqualifying

Ben Carson displays incoherence and ignorance on foreign policy issues that disqualify him from being considered a serious candidate for President of the United States.

Majority of Americans Oppose Ground Troops In Syria And Iraq

In the wake of President Obama’s to send Special Forces to Syria, a new poll finds the public doesn’t like the idea very much.

Republicans And The Legacy Of George W. Bush

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.

Consensus Continues To Grow That Russian Airliner Was Taken Out By A Bomb

The investigation continues, but the consensus seems to be growing that Metrojet 9268 was taken out by a bomb.

America’s ‘Alliance’ Against ISIS Exists Mostly On Paper, Not In Reality

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

George H.W. Bush Highly Critical Of Rumsfeld And Cheney In New Book

In a new book, former President George H.W. Bush is highly critical of two of his son’s closest advisers in the White House.

President Obama Likely To Leave World In As Bad A Shape As He Found It, If Not Worse

President Obama came to office inheriting the legacy of one unnecessary war, and another that had faded from memory. He will leave office with Iraq and Syria in crisis, Europe uneasy, Yemen and Libya unstable breeding grounds for terrorism, and China doing whatever it is they’re doing.

Despite Previous Promises Not To Do So, Obama Is Putting Boots On The Ground In Syria

Another day, another military escalation in the Middle East.

Obama Considering Plan That Would Get U.S. Ground Troops Closer To Front Lines In ISIS War

President Obama is reportedly considering a plan that would put American forces much closer to the ground war in the war against ISIS.

Jim Webb May Turn Pathetic Democratic Primary Campaign Into Pathetic Independent Candidacy

Jim Webb’s campaign for the Democratic nomination has been largely forgettable, so now he’s apparently threatening to run as an Independent.

U.S. To Halt Withdrawal Of Forces From Afghanistan

The plan to withdraw nearly all American forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2016 is being put on hold.

Clinton Wins, And Ends Any Reason For Joe Biden To Enter The Race

In addition to doing everything she needed to do last night, Hillary Clinton also destroyed whatever logic remained for a Joe Biden candidacy.

Obama Administration Abandoning Program To Train And Equip “Moderate” Syrian Rebels

In the wake of failure that could have been easily foreseen, the Obama Administration is ending a program to train so-called “moderate” Syrian rebels.

Obama Considering Plan To Keep U.S. Troops In Afghanistan Past 2016

President Obama is reportedly considering a plan that would keep up to 5,000 American troops in Afghanistan past the withdrawal date he had already set.

Neither The United States Nor Russia Have A Coherent Policy In Syria

With Russia now launching its own airstrikes in Syria, it’s become obvious that U.S. policy in the Syrian Civil War is irrational and contradictory. And Russia’s policy isn’t any better.

Taliban Capture Major Afghan City For First Time Since 9/11

The Taliban dealt a major defeat to a numerically superior Afghan Army force, raising questions about just how well Afghanistan can defend itself on its own.

Foreign Policy At The Republican Debate

With the exception of Rand Paul, the foreign policy discussion at last night’s debate was about as bad as you’d expect.

British Labour Party Takes A Strong Tilt Left In Leadership Election

Britain’s Labour Party has taken a hard tilt left with the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader.

Joe Biden Drops Another Hint About His Presidential Intentions

Vice-President Biden dropped another hint that suggests he might not be up to running for President.

The Iran Nuclear Deal Debate Is Basically Over

President Obama now has enough votes in the Senate, and probably the House, to ensure that Congress cannot block the nuclear deal with Iran.

The Dangers of Relying on Airpower Alone

My latest for War on The Rocks, “The Inter-Service Wars Are Looking Like Calvinball,” has posted.

Elizabeth Warren’s Supporters Aren’t Thrilled About Joe Biden, But Who Is Really?

Joe Biden may want to run for President, but does anyone else? It doesn’t really seem like it.

The Wrong Iraq Question

To lose something one has to have it in the first place. (It is pretty basic logic).

Jeb Bush Is Willfully Blind To The Truth About The Iraq War

Like many Republicans, Jeb Bush continues to be willfully blind to the truth about the Iraq War.

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Obama’s Rhetoric On The Iran Nuclear Deal Is Needlessly Confrontational

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

Lindsey Graham Promoted Twice As Absentee Reservist

Lindsey Graham recently retired as a colonel in the Air Force Reserves after 33 years of service. He missed most of the last twenty.

Trump as Perot 2.0

In 1992, an eccentric billionaire ran an independent campaign against a Bush and a Clinton. It could happen again.

Our Ally Turkey Joins Fight Against ISIL, Killing Our Allies Against ISIL Rather Than ISIL

Turkey has finally joined in the US-led coalition against ISIL. Unfortunately, it’s killing the main ground force fighting ISIL.

Afghan Army Not Doing So Well Against The Taliban

The Afghan Army isn’t doing so well against the Taliban right now.

Today in “Asked and Answered” (Sowell on Iran Deal Edition)

Any discussion of the Iran deal has to be about realistic alternatives, not fantasies.

A New Era for Conservatives?

The events of the past two weeks could allow the Republican Party to move forward.

Army Drops ‘Army Strong’ for . . . Nothing

The nine-year-old ‘Army Strong’ ad campaign is ended.

MARSOC Now Officially ‘Marine Raiders’

Marine special operations forces have called themselves “Raiders” for years. Now it’s official.