Posts by Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.
The Obama Doctrine: Humanitarian Imperialism
The “Obama Doctrine,” such as it is, seems to boil down to moral self-certainty combined with a glaring ignorance of reality. That’s a dangerous combination.
Public Still Skeptical Of Libya Intervention
One week in to Operation Odyssey Down, public opinion is, to put it as nicely as possibly, ambivalent.
Libyan Rebels Running Out Of Steam Again?
As allied involvement in Libya’s civil war increases, there are signs that the rebels may not be able to close the deal.
Donald Trump: Crazy, Cynical, Or Both?
Donald Trump, who may or may not be running for President, is continuing his strange obsession with the birther myth, and reminding Republicans that two years of silence in the face of lunacy may come back to bite them.
Ninth Circuit: Lying About Military Honors Is Protected Speech
Xavier Alvarez lied about having been awarded the Medal Of Honor. Should that be a crime? The Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals says no, and they’re right.
Your Current GOP 2012 Frontrunner: Mike Huckabee?
Quite improbably, Mike Huckabee seems to be positioned at the top of the GOP field right now. The only question is whether he really wants to run for President again.
Joe Lieberman: Hey, Let’s Go To War In Syria Too!
Senator Joe Lieberman said today that we should intervene in Syria using the same rationale we did for Libya. Because, you know, what’s the big deal about a fourth war?
Libyan War Coalition One Of The Smallest In Decades
President Obama’s grand coalition against Libya is a lot less than meets the eye.
2012 Republican Nomination Fight One Of The Most Open-Ended Ever
The race for the 2012 Republican nomination is missing the one thing that GOP nomination battles have almost always had, a frontrunner.
How Strong Are The Libyan Rebels? Not Very, Which Makes Ground Troops Almost Inevitable
The Libyan rebels probably aren’t strong enough to defeat Gaddafi on their own, and the no-fly zone isn’t going to be enough either. Which means this operation is going to be far more extensive than President Obama is willing to admit publicly.
