Public Opinion on Cuba

Army Investigation Of Bowe Berghdahl Referred To Top General

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.

Rand Paul, Marco Rubio Exchange Barbs Over Cuba Policy Changes

Two potential candidates for the Republican nomination in 2016 traded barbs this week over the President’s new policy toward Cuba.

Drezner on Cuba

Some Questions for Those who Oppose an Opening with Cuba

A little round of Qs and As on US-Cuban policy.

Rand Paul Breaks With Other 2016 GOP Contenders In Backing Obama’s Opening To Cuba

Rand Paul is one of the few Republicans who seems to be evaluating the new policy toward Cuba through something other than an outdated Cold War perspective.

Obama’s Cuba Policy Shift Faces Headwinds On Capitol Hill

The fate of Cuba policy in Congress is far from certain, but what is certain is that following through on President Obama’s historic and necessary changes will face resistance.

Obama Has Made An Historic Change In U.S. Cuban Relations, It’s A Good First Step

The resumption of diplomatic relations between U.S. and Cuba, and expansion of some commercial trade ties, is historic but it’s only the first step toward the goal of ending an outdated embargo.

American Held By Cuba Released, U.S. And Cuba To Begin Talks On Normalizing Relations

An American freed from captivity, and potentially huge changes in America’s diplomatic and trade relationship with Cuba.

It’s Time To End The U.S. Embargo Of Cuba

The U.S. embargo of Cuba, and our lack of diplomatic recognition of the government in Havana, is an outdated relic of the Cold War. It’s time to end it.

Kissinger Wanted To Bomb Cuba

Newly released documents reveal that Henry Kissinger wanted to attack Cuba in the mid-1970s.

GAO: Obama Broke The Law In Bergdahl Release Deal

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

New Sanctions Announced Against Russia, But It’s Unclear Russia Will Care

The U.S. and Europe have announced a new round of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, but it’s not clear that the Russians will be motivated to change course.

The Solar Storm That Nearly Destroyed Civilization As We Know It

Just about two years ago, we dodged a bullet. We might not be so lucky next time.

Abu Khattala Will Be Tried In A Criminal Court, As He Should Be

The justice system works, there’s no need to scrap it.

Public Skeptical Of Bergdahl Deal

Thanks largely to Administration mistakes, the Bergdahl deal is not going over well.

The Right Way To View The Bowe Bergdahl Deal

Trying to make some sense out of a week of outrage.

Did Obama Violate The Law With The Bergdahl Release? It Sure Seems Like It

Good intentions aren’t an excuse for failure to follow the law.

Obama Administration Pushes Back Against Criticism Of Deal That Led To Bergdahl Release

The Obama White House rejected Republican criticism of the deal that led to the release of the only American Prisoner Of War from the Afghanistan War.

Republicans Criticize Deal That Led To American P.O.W.’s Release

Petty politics, or valid concerns?

Colombia’s Presidential Elections

Looking back at the first round and forward to the second.

Edward Snowden: I Was More Than Just A ‘Data Analyst’

For the first time, Edward Snowden is talking to the American media.

Texas is How Big?

JR is from Texas wants you to know that Texas is big. No, bigger than that.

Carterization of Obama

Barack Obama is no Jimmy Carter.

Overselling the Stakes in Crimea

My first piece for The Hill, “Crimea is not Armageddon,” posted this morning.

Obama Ambassador Follies

President Obama is rewarding unqualified hacks who raised huge sums for his campaign with ambassadorships.

OTB Caption Contest Winners

The Rainy Day Women Edition OTB Caption ContestTM is now over.

Robert Gates Hits Obama, Biden, Clinton In New Book, But Will Americans Care?

A new book by former SecDef Robert Gates is making political waves in Washington power circles, but will it matter to ordinary Americans?

The Ongoing Illogic of US Policy Towards Cuba

The Obama-Castro handshake at Mandela’s funeral has caused a bit of an uproar.

John F. Kennedy A Conservative? No, Not Really

Conservatives have their own Kennedy myth to compete with the myth of Camelot.

Blaming Dallas For Kennedy’s Assassination

Don’t blame Dallas, or 60s era Texas conservatism, for what happened in Dallas 50 years ago,

Guantanamo Detainees Will Get Parole-Style Hearings—Eventually

A late-night announcement that Gitmo detainees will get hearings raises more questions than it answers.

Some Basic Political Science Regarding Egypt

Some thoughts on the ongoing situation in Egypt.