Outside the Beltway

Thanksgiving Eve Tabs

· Wednesday, November 26, 2025 · 1 comment

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 3, 2020. Ford is underway conducting carrier qualifications. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 3, 2020. Ford is underway conducting carrier qualifications.

We’re on the Verge of War With Venezuela (and Maybe Colombia)

· Saturday, October 25, 2025 · 27 comments

What could possibly go wrong?

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Trump’s Peace Deal May Prove Short-Lived

· Tuesday, October 21, 2025 · 17 comments

The hostages have been released, but the war appears back on.

The Largest One-Day Protest In American History

· Sunday, October 19, 2025 · 19 comments

Millions turned out in support of basic ideals.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Trump Takes Victory Lap as Israeli Hostages Freed

· Monday, October 13, 2025 · 13 comments

All 20 living hostages have been released and the bodies of others are slowly being returned.

Trump’s Nobel Bid

· Thursday, October 9, 2025 · 36 comments

Peace Prize in our time!

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Trump Peace Plan to Be Implemented as Negotiations Continue

· Thursday, October 9, 2025 · No comments

A pause in fighting, release of hostages, and then . . . ?

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Hamas Agrees To Release Hostages But Wants Further Negotiations

· Saturday, October 4, 2025 · 11 comments

A No masquerading as a Yes to Trump’s peace deal.

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Trump Offers Hamas Take It Or Leave It Peace Deal

· Tuesday, September 30, 2025 · 11 comments

Netanyahu will take it.

Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuated

· Tuesday, September 9, 2025 · 35 comments

The inevitable has finally arrived.

Israel Bombs Hamas Leaders in Quatar

· Tuesday, September 9, 2025 · 14 comments

BREAKING NEWS

Trump’s National Security Non-Process

· Sunday, August 31, 2025 · 6 comments

A very different way to run a railroad.

Genocide, War Crimes, and Gaza

· Wednesday, August 13, 2025 · 45 comments

There are no satisfying answers.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room. President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

Israel To Retake Gaza City

· Friday, August 8, 2025 · 12 comments

The seemingly inevitable next step.

Tabby Thursday

· Thursday, July 31, 2025 · 12 comments

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France Recognizes Palestine

· Friday, July 25, 2025 · 42 comments

Responding to tragedy with farce.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room. President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

Did Netanyahu Prolong the Gaza War To Save Himself?

· Friday, July 11, 2025 · 26 comments

A long exposé misses the mark.

President Donald Trump thanks the crowd after remarks at the Salute to America Celebration, Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. President Donald Trump thanks the crowd after remarks at the Salute to America Celebration, Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.

Trump Applies Madman Theory For Real

· Wednesday, July 9, 2025 · 34 comments

An unusual diplomatic approach.

In Front of Our Noses: Media Intimidation

· Wednesday, July 2, 2025 · 4 comments

An attack on the First Amendment in plain sight.

Checking in on The List

· Tuesday, July 1, 2025 · 45 comments

Where are we with my concerns about the Trump administration?

About Nobel Prize Nominations…

· Saturday, June 28, 2025 · 9 comments

…they aren’t that hard to get.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a recorded message. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a recorded message.

Khameini Declares Victory

· Thursday, June 26, 2025 · 45 comments

Iran came “this close” to ending the Zionist regime.

US Attack Likely Set Iran Nuke Program Back Mere Months

· Wednesday, June 25, 2025 · 31 comments

The preliminary DIA assessment has been leaked.

Social Media Diplomacy?

· Tuesday, June 24, 2025 · 15 comments

Is that really a good idea?

Ceasefire in Iran War

· Tuesday, June 24, 2025 · 34 comments

This phase seems to be over. [Or maybe not!]

Headline of the Day

· Monday, June 23, 2025 · 13 comments

I don’t question the timing.

How Effective Were U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities?

· Monday, June 23, 2025 · 88 comments

Maximalist claims are almost surely overstated.

The Domestic Politics of the Iran Strike

· Sunday, June 22, 2025 · 24 comments

Democrats are mostly condemning it and Republicans are divided.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the situation room during the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the situation room during the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites.

U.S. Bombs Three Iranian Nuke Sites

· Sunday, June 22, 2025 · 33 comments

The war is on.

Why Might Iran Want a Nuke?

· Saturday, June 21, 2025 · 34 comments

Is dropping it on Israel the most likely reason?

Israel-Iran War: What’s the End State?

· Saturday, June 21, 2025 · 39 comments

Thinking about possible outcomes.

They Don’t Teach IR in Sunday School

· Friday, June 20, 2025 · 6 comments

Cruz on supporting Israel.

Trump Has Approved Iran War Plans

· Thursday, June 19, 2025 · 35 comments

Whatever that means.

Right Wing Media On Iran In 2025 Sounds A Lot Like It Did On Iraq In 2002/3

· Wednesday, June 18, 2025 · 33 comments

We’re officially past rhyming and into history (or at least rhetoric) repeating.

In Front of Our Noses: Another Democratic Official Arrested

· Wednesday, June 18, 2025 · 7 comments

The pattern of attempted intimidation continues.

The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

A Couple of Observations Relevant to Iran

· Tuesday, June 17, 2025 · 75 comments

Not really posts, but hey, here they are anyway.

Ali Khamenei's visit to the exhibition of achievements of the IRGC Aerospace Force 19 November 2023 Ali Khamenei's visit to the exhibition of achievements of the IRGC Aerospace Force 19 November 2023

Iranian Leadership in Turmoil

· Tuesday, June 17, 2025 · 28 comments

The loss of many key leaders in short order is a serious problem.

Regime Change in Iran

· Monday, June 16, 2025 · 34 comments

Trump and Netanyahu do not see eye to eye on the matter.

TGIF Tabs

· Friday, June 13, 2025 · 4 comments

Israel Strikes Iranian Nuclear Program

· Friday, June 13, 2025 · 72 comments

The war is on.

Israel May Attack Iran Soon

· Thursday, June 12, 2025 · 28 comments

A major escalation in Middle East tensions is forecast.

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Trump DOE Attacks Columbia Accreditation

· Thursday, June 5, 2025 · 16 comments

The administration’s war on higher ed has escalated.

Terror Attack in Boulder

· Monday, June 2, 2025 · 33 comments

The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

Awful Things Are Happening

· Sunday, June 1, 2025 · 17 comments

Terrorism in Colorado. Continued awful violence in Gaza.

President Trump signing Oval Office February 12, 2025 President Trump signing Oval Office February 12, 2025

In Front of our Noses: The Golden Dome

· Friday, May 23, 2025 · 14 comments

Another example.

A 1,000 Words or So on Human Rights

· Saturday, May 17, 2025 · 11 comments

A snapshot from Saudi Arabia.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks on 'Investing in America', Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Cross Hall of the White House. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on 'Investing in America', Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Cross Hall of the White House.

Trump: Ending Wars is Hard

· Saturday, May 10, 2025 · 26 comments

Who could have known?

Americans See Presidential Overreach

· Saturday, April 26, 2025 · 26 comments

Even Republicans are balking at some Trump policies.

The free high-resolution photo of people, auditorium, meeting, sitting, student, education, classroom, indoors, study, university, school, learn, lecturer, studying, campus, class, lecture, college, convention, seminar, academic conference , taken with an unknown camera 03/24 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of people, auditorium, meeting, sitting, student, education, classroom, indoors, study, university, school, learn, lecturer, studying, campus, class, lecture, college, convention, seminar, academic conference , taken with an unknown camera 03/24 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

The War on Higher Ed

· Saturday, March 29, 2025 · 36 comments

Elite American universities are surrending at an astonishing pace.

Israel’s Next Move

· Thursday, March 27, 2025 · 17 comments

Will the Netanyahu government double down on its weakening of Iran?

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