Outside the Beltway

The United States and Russia have agreed to the framework of a deal to turn over Syrian chemical weapons.

I’ve been up since 3 am and drinking since 6 pm, so my reaction to a presidential war speech at 9 am may not be the definitive word

My latest for The National Interest has posted.

Even before the Russian curve ball, the public opposition to military strikes on Syria was mounting.

Opposing interventionism and unnecessary and unwise military engagements is not isolationism.

A throwaway comment by John Kerry in London has led to some interesting diplomatic developments.

Given that the vote count seems to be heading that way, this is a question worth examination.

Bombing Country B to “send a message” to Country A is not a valid argument for bombing Country B.

A proposed Syria authorization being considered in the Senate places several limits on Presidential authority to act, but it’s unclear if those limits can actually work.

Could anyone have imagined a decade ago a scenario when the United States would go to war with France by our side and England on the sidelines?

Persuasion is sometimes an important part of being president.

The United States will go to war without UN or NATO approval.

There’s more than one way to look at the civil war in Syria.

We’re almost certainly going to launch punitive strikes against Syria. They’ll almost certainly be ineffective.

As President Obama’s red line has been crossed more brazenly, he continues to sound reluctant to intervene in Syria while positioning forces to do just that.

Some conservatives don’t seem too troubled by Vladimir Putin’s repression.

In the end, it doesn’t appear that the Boston Marathon bombings could have been prevented by law enforcement.

Gay bars around the world are banning Russian vodka to protest the lack of gay rights in that country.

Think of it as the spy version of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

The United States has far and away the most capable navy on the planet. But it’s not very capable at the moment.

There are over 1,000 Executive Branch positions requiring Senate approval. That seems excessive.

North Korea’s nuclear weapons aren’t going anywhere.

Some thoughts on the ongoing situation in Egypt.