Outside the Beltway

Debating proposed changes to the US military’s retirement system.

During last night’s debate, Mitt Romney repeated a charge that has become part of the conservative zeitgeist. But is it true?

The second half of the President’s political strategy is in place. Don’t mistake it for a serious legislative effort.

As more details roll in on President Obama’s millionaire tax hike, it’s looking like it was drawn up by J. Wellington Wimpy: “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.”

The cable networks and the political parties will tell you otherwise, but the 2012 isn’t quite as important as they’re saying.

The U.S. War in Afghanistan sounds disturbingly similar to the Soviet one.

NATO is still seen as essential by 62 percent of both EU and U.S. respondents, demonstrating that the transatlantic military bond is still, despite a rough decade, firmly entrenched in American and European views of the world.

The US ambassador to Afghanistan said so in a recent interview, and it’s a stunning statistic if true. But it’s probably not.

The Texas Governor was taking it from all sides at last night’s Tea Party Debate.

Accusing someone of “politicizing” a discussion of 9/11 is like accusing someone of “athleticizing” a discussion of football.

The short-lived national unity spawned by the attacks of a decade ago was re-kindled for a few hours as former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush joined with Vice President Joe Biden to honor Flight 93.

Measuring our progress a decade after the 9/11 attacks

For a peace envoy, Blair has some nonpeaceful ideas.

There were eight people on the stage last night, but the GOP field has narrowed significantly.

Killing’s our business and business is good.

What does the apparent outcome of the war in Libya mean for the so-called “Responsibility To Protect” doctrine?

Steve Clemons highlights former first lady Laura Bush’s continuing work in promoting education and international engagement.

Romney’s VFW speech was filled with tropes and bromides but nothing that should raise eyebrows.

Ron Paul is again making the argument that American foreign policy has contributed to terrorism. He’s more right than wrong.

My first piece for CNN has been posted at Fareed Zakaria’s Global Public Square.

That a popular two-term governor of Utah is being rejected by likely Republican primary voters as insufficiently conservative shows just how extreme American politics has gotten.

The U.S may be on the verge of committing the next decade to the future of Afghanistan.

Why Big Army has trouble with small wars.

Success in Libya does not make the American mission any less unjustified than it was on the day President Obama announced it.

President Obama’s job approval numbers are even worse when you just look at the economy.

One of the super-rich says we should stop coddling the super-rich.

Rick Perry declared, “One of the reasons that I’m running for president is I want to make sure that every young man and woman who puts on the uniform of the United States respects highly the president of the United States.”

Last night’s debate was definitely more combative than previous renditions.

Honoring the fallen by ensuring that the didn’t die in vain is a recipe for getting more good men killed.

The defense spending lobby is already engaging in fear-mongering over very modest defense cuts.

A disastrous day for American troops in Afghanistan.

The cuts to Pentagon spending in the new debt deal are further revealing a split in the GOP over foreign policy and military spending.

A take on the conflict that’s probably different from the one you’ve been reading.

Once again, the debt ceiling deal is raising questions about the President’s leadership.

Condi Rice’s speechwriter thinks Huntsman can appeal to the Tea Party.