Outside the Beltway

President Erdogan is playing a dangerous game.

Because you needed one more thing to worry about.

Moscow helped Trump in 2016. Do they want him back?

Claims by the President and Defense Department about the Iranian response to the Soleimani raid were untrue.

President Trump is making ridiculous threats against the regime in Iraq that are likely to draw it closer to Iran.

President Trump’s threat to attack Iranian cultural sites would most likely constitute a war crime if he actually carried it out.

The assassination of a top Iranian official on a visit to Baghdad is having the expected negative impact on our relationship with Iraq and the fight against ISIS.

Despite Pompeo’s assurances, we are already seeing consequences for the Suleimani killing.

An American drone strike has taken out the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a move likely to significantly increase tensions across the Middle East.

Amid protests over American airstrikes, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has become a target.

Notwithstanding Russia’s weak position vis a vis the west, It’s Putin who seems to be winning.

Having failed to form governments after two successive elections, Israel is headed for a third election inside of a year.

Lindsey Graham faces a potentially interesting challenge in his 2020 re-election bid.

Much like the President they obsequiously defend, Republicans have become useful idiots in Russia’s war on Western liberal democracy.

Earlier this month, Senator Lindsey Graham blocked a bipartisan resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide, Now we know why.

Reversing decades of policy, the Trump Administration reversed decades of policy on settlements in disputed territory.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared that the NATO alliance is suffering brain death due to President Trump’s neglect and lack of leadership.

If President Trump expected to get a political bump from the death of the leader of ISIS, he is most likely going to be disappointed.

John Kelly, President Trump’s former Chief of Staff, is speaking out nearly a year after leaving office

There’s apparently big news in the fight against ISIS.

President Trump’s sudden decision to withdraw troops from Syria isn’t receiving much public support.

As American forces retreat, Russia and Turkey are dividing up northern Syria like,well,a turkey.

ISIS is quickly taking advantage of the abrupt American withdrawal from northern Syria.

So far at least, Elizabeth Warren is not doing a good job of articulating her foreign policy positions. That needs to change if she’s going to be a serious candidate.

American negotiators are claiming a ceasefire in northern Syria. The Turks, Syrians, and Russians are the winners, the Kurds are the losers, and we look like schmucks.

As the vultures continue to circle above the White House, the President continues to lash out.

There’s no rational explanation for this.

Elizabeth Warren took most of the fire during last night’s fourth Democratic debate, which will likely go a long way toward winnowing down a crowded field.

Concluding thoughts (for the moment).

With twelve Democrats set to clash tonight in Ohio, it’s time to take a look at the state of the race.

As the Turkish invasion of northern Syria continues, Donald Trump responds with basically nothing.

Turkish forces advance, American forces retreat, the Kurds seek new allies, and Syria and Russia come out the winners.

Trump’s error in Syria.

Thinking about support for Trump and considering how recent events may influence that support.

President Trump is basically saying he does not care if ISIS prisoners return to Europe to commit terror attacks.

Trump makes a particularly dumb comment about our alliance with Syrian Kurds.

Just days after President Trump agreed to remove American forces from the scene, Turkish forces are entering northern Syria and Kurdish forces say they ar ready for war.

President Trump’s latest Syria move is coming under heavy criticism even from fellow Republicans.

The United States is withdrawing its small force from Northern Syria, clearing the way for a Turkish invasion that will likely
aim to wipeout the Kurdish forces in the region.

While the world continues to evaluate the impact of Saturday’s attack on a Saudi oil facility, tensions in the Persian Gulf are increasing.

John Bolton was not a good National Security Adviser, but the real problem with Trump Administration foreign policy comes from the man at the top.

Iowa Congressman Steve King finds himself low on campaign cash and with virtually no support from his party.

Congressman Steve King has some rather unique views about human history.

Mark Esper has been confirmed and sworn in as the next Secretary of Defense, ending a period of nearly 100 days during which the Pentagon was headed by a succession of Acting Secretaries.

Tensions are increasing in the Persian Gulf thanks to a collection of actions by Iran, the United States, and United Kingdom.

The latest in the wars against liberalism.

The Pentagon has been headed by Acting Secretaries for an unprecedented period. Does it really matter?

A possible way forward?

Just days after being named the next Acting Secretary of Defense, the President is appointing Mark Esper to be full Secretary of Defense.

The planes were apparently in the air, and the ships in position, for an American attack on Iran last night. Then the order to pull back came in.