Outside the Beltway

Tweets aren’t policy, unless they are.

A recurring source of friction in the OTB conversation.

One side is arguing over rules while the other is focused on consequences.

The chief diplomat of the United States isn’t very diplomatic (nor informative).

Claims by the President and Defense Department about the Iranian response to the Soleimani raid were untrue.

President Trump has a huge decision to make.

President Trump is making ridiculous threats against the regime in Iraq that are likely to draw it closer to Iran.

President Trump’s threat to attack Iranian cultural sites would most likely constitute a war crime if he actually carried it out.

In response to the American assassination of a top General, Iran has announced the end of yet more restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal.

The assassination of a top Iranian official on a visit to Baghdad is having the expected negative impact on our relationship with Iraq and the fight against ISIS.

Despite Pompeo’s assurances, we are already seeing consequences for the Suleimani killing.

If your case needs a 9/11 boost, perhaps your case is weak.

An American drone strike has taken out the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a move likely to significantly increase tensions across the Middle East.

Amid protests over American airstrikes, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has become a target.

The DPRK is promising a “gift” to the United States. The only question seems to be what form it will take.

Having failed to form governments after two successive elections, Israel is headed for a third election inside of a year.

Paul Volcker, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board who put an end to the rampant inflation that threatened to choke the American economy, has died at 92.

WIth North Korea’s end of the year deadline for progress on talks quickly approaching, it is clear that the Trump Administration’s policies with regard to the DPRK have failed.

Donald Trump’s pardons of soldiers convicted of war crimes sends the wrong message to the military, to our allies, and to the world.

The Secretary of the Navy was abruptly dismissed late yesterday in a dispute over the a case involving a SEAL accused of war crimes.

Republicans used to honor the men and women who serve our country. In the Trump Era, they attack them in defense of the President.

After a long day of hearings, the case against the President is becoming clearer and Republican defenses becoming more absurd.

Against the advice of his top military advisers, President Trump has cleared three American soldiers of war crimes, sending a horrible signal to the world and to the troops in the field.

History shows us that candidates who enter the race for President late rarely do well, and rarely manage to win.

Suicide has become a bigger threat to members of the military and veterans than combat. That needs to change.

Defying the Commander-in-Chief’s order will almost certainly ruin a good man’s career.

If President Trump expected to get a political bump from the death of the leader of ISIS, he is most likely going to be disappointed.

Yesterday’s testimony by Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman including information particularly damaging to the President and his defenses to the charges against him in the Ukraine matter.

There’s apparently big news in the fight against ISIS.

President Trump’s sudden decision to withdraw troops from Syria isn’t receiving much public support.

As American forces retreat, Russia and Turkey are dividing up northern Syria like,well,a turkey.

ISIS is quickly taking advantage of the abrupt American withdrawal from northern Syria.

So far at least, Elizabeth Warren is not doing a good job of articulating her foreign policy positions. That needs to change if she’s going to be a serious candidate.

Trump’s error in Syria.

President Trump is basically saying he does not care if ISIS prisoners return to Europe to commit terror attacks.

Just days after President Trump agreed to remove American forces from the scene, Turkish forces are entering northern Syria and Kurdish forces say they ar ready for war.

The United States is withdrawing its small force from Northern Syria, clearing the way for a Turkish invasion that will likely
aim to wipeout the Kurdish forces in the region.

Trump threatens civil war if he’s removed from office.

Jacques Chirac, who served two terms as President of France and was a strong opponent of the Iraq War, has died.

Eighteen years after it started, the American public seems to be mostly ignoring the war in Afghanistan. But that isn’t an excuse for not bringing it to an end.

It’s still early in the election cycle but there’s plenty for the President to worry about.

As the Saudis continue to evaluate the impact of the weekend attack on a major oil facility, the Trump Administration tones down the anti-Iran rhetoric just a bit.

While the world continues to evaluate the impact of Saturday’s attack on a Saudi oil facility, tensions in the Persian Gulf are increasing.

Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a massive attack on an important Saudi oil facility.

The top ten candidates in the race for the Democratic nomination clashed last night in a debate that made clear the different ideological directions that this race is pulling their party.

Thanks for nothing, Republicans.

Joe Walsh, a former Tea Party stalwart who served in Congress nine years ago, has thrown his hat in the ring against President Trump for the 2020 GOP Presidential Nomination.

Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton is ending a Presidential bid that few people were paying attention to.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions toward two Democratic Congresswomen,seemingly at the bidding of President Trump, is the latest example of the growing partisan divide over policy toward Israel.