Outside the Beltway

The German Parliament has approved expansion of the nation’s involvement in the campaign against ISIS, but that doesn’t make the current campaign any less incoherent.

Yesterday, the British Parliament debated the expansion of that nation’s military strikes against ISIS. For more than a year, our cowardly Congress has failed to even hold one debate or vote on America’s role in that conflict.

Hillary Clinton’s recently announced policies toward the ISIS fight are as incoherent and misguided as President Obama’s and those of her Republican opponents.

An apparent ongoing terrorist attack in Central Africa.

Even the people hired to advice Ben Carson on foreign policy seem to recognize that he is clueless on the subject, and has no apparent desire to educate himself.

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

France’s President blames ISIS, vows response, as death toll from Paris terror attacks stands at at least 127.

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.

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.

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.

Another day, another military escalation in the Middle East.

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

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.

Seymour Hersh is out with a conspiracy theory about the death of Osama bin Laden that just doesn’t make sense.

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

ISIS apparently now has a foothold in Libya, and is making inroads in Yemen.

Explaining my ambivalence around the latest escalation in our intervention.

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

U.S. troops will be in Afghanistan for at least the next three years.

Despite the President’s assurances of an international coalition, the rest of the world doesn’t seem all that interested in joining the fight.

Obama’s current policy—tactical level strikes with no obvious long-term strategic aim—may well be the best we can hope for.

A major escalation.

End game? Or the potential spark of a wider war?

Things are getting serious in eastern Ukraine.

In the end, the separatists in eastern Ukraine have always been expendable as far as Vladimir Putin is concerned.

And odd report from Washington Post and Stars and Stripes.

Hubris.

Provocative words from Vice-President Biden. But, are they realistic?

A rather impressive recovery from a career that was mostly dead in 2007.

Hundreds are dead as Egypt’s military government crack down on supporters of the democratically elected government they ousted.

A state of perpetual war is incompatible with good mental health and stable family relationships.

A decade ago. a certain New York Times columnist was more right than your humble host.

When Glen Coffee abruptly retired from a promising NFL career, most wondered what he was up to. Now we know.

Two polls indicate that most Americans oppose the President’s latest moves on Syria. This makes sense considering actual policy there seems to be entirely incoherent.

Apparently, Benghazi has not faded (at least not for some).

A former Navy SEAL charges that Blackwater snipers killed American citizens in New Orleans during Katrina’s aftermath.

American troops may now earn the fourth highest combat medal from the comfort of their desk chair.