Outside the Beltway

Vladimir Putin is banning commodity exports.

It’s hard to see how this crisis ends.

Deterring Russia is a matter of principle.

The first shoe has dropped.

The much-anticipated escalation has happened. Now to see how the United States and its allies respond.

This could be a very big deal – unless it isn’t.

The President is blaming Democrats for the fact that so many of his Ambassadors have not been confirmed. The truth, of course, is quite the opposite.

The dispute over Ukraine between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Patriarch is widening and nearing the point of a complete break.

Last week, the Polish President floated the idea of a permanent U.S. military base in Poland. It’s a bad idea no matter how you look at it.

The arguments in favor of a permanent U.S./NATO base in Poland are not very convincing.

Poland makes the U.S. and NATO an offer they might want to consider refusing.

The President’s new attempt to ban transgender Americans from serving in the military is as legally defective as the original ban was.

The British prime minister and outgoing US Secretary of State declared a red line crossed. There’s no reason to think this White House will follow through.

The Defense Department will reportedly recommend to President Trump that transgender members of the service currently serving in the military be allowed to continue serving.

After a long wait, gays and lesbians in Australia have achieved marriage equality.

The Trump Administration has reportedly finalized its order to the Defense Department regarding a ban on military service by transgender soldiers.

Just about two weeks after being announced, the President’s proposed ban on military service by transgender troops is being challenged in Court.

Vice-President Pence is advocating the admission of Georgia into NATO. That would be a bad idea.

A step backward on civil rights from a President who claimed he would be a friend to the LGBT community.

My latest is out at RealClearDefense.

A controversial retired General has been tapped to be President-Elect Trump’s top White House foreign policy voice.

The news that at least some of the men who were involved in the terrorist attacks in Paris were among the refugees who have arrived in Europe since the summer is likely to complicate an already complicated situation.

In what seems to be a clear signal to Russia, the U.S. is considering pre-positioning military equipment in nation’s very close to Russian borders.

After months of “not running,” Jeb Bush will formally enter the Presidential race on June 15th.

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.

Vladimir Putin’s reception at the G-20 Summit in Australia has been less than warm thanks to recent events in Ukraine.

Quietly, oil prices have been falling for months now. That’s potentially a very big deal.

While the world watches Ukraine, Central Asia could also be an area where Russia may seek to expand its territory.

Is “Finlandization” a viable option for Ukraine?

Provocative words from Vice-President Biden. But, are they realistic?

NATO seems intent on sending a signal to Vladmir Putin that there are limits to his patience.

NATO may be preparing to send Russia a message.

As everyone anticipated, the Crimean referendum came out in favor of secession from Ukraine and union with Russia. What happens next is another question entirely.

Wendy Lower documents the half-million women who helped Hitler carry out the Holocaust.

Let’s take a trip back in time to see what some conservatives thought 2012 would look like if Barack Obama were elected President.

What is wrong with us?

Not surprisingly, the last man to lead the Soviet Union believes we’d be better off if it still existed.

Most research shows that unemployment benefits/insurance increases the duration of unemployment.