Outside the Beltway

ISIS has captured Ramadi, and revealed yet again how fractured Iraq actually is. Fixing that isn’t something that American aid or arms can accomplish.

Iraq seems to becoming a political headache for yet another member of the Bush family.

The tributes to the troops you see during N.F.L. games were most likely bought and paid for with your tax dollars.

There must be something odd in the water in the Lone Star State, because a bizarre conspiracy theory seems to have taken root there.

Marco Rubio is often described as one of the GOP’s leaders on foreign policy, but a close look reveals a decided lack of substance.

The last of my four pieces analyzing the revised National Security Strategy has posted at RealClearDefense.

Pressure is building on the Administration to send military aid to Ukraine, but it would be a very bad idea.

ISIS owns more territory than it did when the US bombing campaign began.

The Army’s investigation of the disappearance five years ago of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been referred to a top General, who will decide if a court martial should be convened.

The costs of more than a decade of war are far higher than many ever thought, and we’re still paying the price for the fiscal irresponsibility of the Bush Administration while they were being fought.

Sony is warning the press not to publish material leaked by hackers, but it doesn’t have much of a legal leg to stand on.

A surprising change at the top of the military’s civilian chain of command.

What have our efforts to improve the Afghan economy accomplished?

The shocking has become routine. We’re no safer because of it.

You thought the American combat role in Afghanistan would end on December 31st? Think again.

As things stand right now, there is no legitimate legal authorization for the President’s war against ISIS, and that’s largely because Congress has failed to act.

Mission creep.

Always as many military personnel identify as Independents as with the GOP.

The Navy Special Warfare community is angry at SEALs exploiting their part in the bin Laden raid.

The passing of a true legend in American journalism.

America’s federal workforce is increasingly disenchanted.

A new report from the New York Times confirms the adage that, in war, the first casualty is the truth.

The Turks have entered the conflict in Syria. Unfortunately for the United States, it’s not on the side we would prefer.

So far at least, the air strikes against Islamic State positions in Syria do not seem to be having much of an impact.

Corporal Jordan Spears died in a V-22 accident in operations against the Islamic State.

Apparently, the buck doesn’t stop in the Oval Office these days.

The American public’s support for the President’s war against ISIS has its limits.

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

The Administration’s policy in the President’s war against ISIS has no coherent plan, and that virtually guarantees escalation.

The war against ISIS continues to silently escalate, with little input from the people’s representatives in Congress.

As we head into a new conflict, perhaps we ought to give more thought to fiscal issues than the President is to overall strategy.

So much for the President’s promise about ‘no ground troops.’

The Army brass is worried about its diversity in critical mid-level posts.

It would appear that someone needs to introduce the Air Force to Article VI of the Constitution.

Massive US intervention has for now liberated Amerli, averting humanitarian disaster. Another crisis looms.

As talk begins of expanding the war against ISIS into Syria, it is becoming long past time for Congress to exercise its Constitutional function.

The General Accounting Office confirmed what seems clear to anyone who can read a statute.

For the second time in just over ten years, the United States is involved in military action in Iraq.

Add Libya to the list of the world’s trouble spots.

Things are getting serious in eastern Ukraine.

Another incident involving a Malaysia Airlines 777, but this one could be far more serious.