Outside the Beltway

Jeb Bush told a group of supporters that his brother is his top Middle East policy adviser. This strikes me as being a bad idea.

Largely in reaction to revelations about N,S.A. surveillance, Germany has cut back on its intelligence cooperation with the United States.

A Federal Appeals Court has ruled that the N.S.A.’s data mining program is illegal, but its ruling may not have a very big impact.

Two men were killed last night before they could carry out what appears to be a planned attack on an anti-Islam event in Texas.

Rand Paul bucks Republican orthodoxy on Iraq, Libya, and negotiations with Iran.

U.S forces in Afghanistan have been involved in missions that go far beyond the counterterror mission the Obama Administration said they would be limited to.

Congress can’t really do anything to stop a nuclear deal with Iran, and John Boehner knows it.

Pot, meet kettle.

Marco Rubio is often described as one of the GOP’s leaders on foreign policy, but a close look reveals a decided lack of substance.

The former CIA Director received no jail time and a nuisance-level fine in exchange for a guilty plea to espionage charges.

An attack on al Qaeda outposts in January resulted in the death of two hostages, but also resulted in the death of two high value al Qaeda targets.

Chinese analysts are telling their American counterparts that North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is far more sophisticated than previously believed.

A new report ties undisclosed donations to the Clinton Foundation to a Russian company’s acquisition of controlling interest in a major uranium mining company.

Not surprisingly, the Select Committee established by House Republicans to investigate something that has already been investigated multiple times, will be in operation well into the Presidential Election season.

Another step forward for U.S.-Cuban relations.

After months of resistance, the White House will allow Congressional review of any deal with Iran, but it may not hamper negotiations much in the end.

Conditioning an Iranian nuclear deal on recognition of Israel is foolish, unrealistic, and very bad diplomacy.

Fox News’ Catherine Herridge is creating a scandal where none exists.

One freshman Senator seems to think that war with Iran would be easy, just like Republicans used to think that war against Iraq would be easy.

An unsurprising outcome as we approach the second anniversary of the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

Rand Paul has changed position on several foreign policy issues, but he doesn’t seem to want to talk about it.

Democrats like New York Senator Chuck Schumer could end up being the ones that scuttle the Iranian nuclear deal.

Scott Walker’s response to the Iranian nuclear deal is perhaps the most irresponsible so far.

The Iranian nuclear accords are barely 24 hours old and some people have already made up their mind about them.

Talks in Geneva have reached a framework agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program that, if it’s complied with, appears at first glance to be about the best deal available under the circumstances.

New polling on President Obama’s opening to Cuba is likely to surprise some, and disappoint others.

President George W. Bush had a running battle with the CIA throughout his eight years in office. Now, they’ve given him an award.

More than ever before, even mild criticism of Israel seems to be verboten among Republicans.

In a twist fitting for an M Night Shyamalan movie, there is growing evidence that there was malfeasance by the co-pilot that resulted in a deliberate crash of Germanwings flight 9525.

Bowe Bergdahl will face charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, and the White House’s narrative about this release lies in tatters.

America’s longest war continues.

Yet another probable rift between the U.S. and Israel over Iran.

Rand Paul now says he signed the Cotton Letter to strengthen the Administration’s bargaining position.

Ben Carson doesn’t seem to know much about foreign policy or history. And he doesn’t belong on anyone’s list of serious Presidential candidates.

A headline I did not expect to see, courtesy the Army Times: “Dakota Meyer engaged to Bristol Palin.”

The president is the commander-in-chief of the US armed forces. He’s not commander-in-chief of the United States.

Hillary Clinton addressed the week-long email controversy, but her explanations only raised new questions.

Senate Republicans have done more harm to the goal of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons than they have done good.

Amateurish? Condescending? Yes. Treasonous? No.

The gang calling itself the Islamic State has destroyed another historical site.

Iraqi army and Iranian army in joint offensive to retake Tikrit.

The most widely honored General from the Iraq and Afghanistan War has plead guilty to sharing classified information with his mistress.

Polling indicates that the American public opposes the GOP position on DHS funding, but that’s unlikely to change many minds on Capitol Hill.

The Atlantic has a fascinating cover story by Graeme Wood titled “What ISIS Really Wants.”

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

Yet another attack on religious freedom in Europe.