Outside the Beltway

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker isn’t officially a candidate for President yet, but he’s doing quite well in Iowa anyway.

Another step forward toward ending a U.S. policy regarding Cuba that was outdated twenty years ago.

Rand Paul is out with one of his more forceful attacks on Republican hawks to date.

ISIS has captured Ramadi, and revealed yet again how fractured Iraq actually is. Fixing that isn’t something that American aid or arms can accomplish.

The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia has seen better days.

Iraq seems to becoming a political headache for yet another member of the Bush family.

Seymour Hersh is out with a conspiracy theory about the death of Osama bin Laden that just doesn’t make sense.

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.

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

Saudi Arabia’s new King has shaken up the Royal Family, and that could have interesting results.

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.

For months, Ted Cruz said the nomination of Loretta Lynch must be blocked. Then, he failed to show up when the Senate voted on her nomination.

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

New allegations regarding foreign government donations to the Clinton Foundation seem likely to become a campaign issue.

And the fun part is that his main motive for running appears to be the opportunity to troll Rand Paul.

Like nearly all of his fellow Republicans, Jeb Bush has adopted the disastrous foreign policy views that typified his brother’s Presidency.

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.

Marco Rubio is the first Republican in the race who actually has a plausible chance to win the nomination, but it’s not going to be easy.

The Heifer the Hills Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

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.

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

Rand Paul is the latest Republican to enter the race, but his path to even becoming a contender is a difficult one at best.

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 political media is breathlessly reporting on every event in a campaign that is just beginning, and voters aren’t really paying attention to it at this point.

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.

Rand Paul has been cozying up to social conservatives lately, but he risks alienating the people most likely to support his campaign for the White House.

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

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.

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

Benjamin Netanyahu is trailing in the final polls leading to Tuesday’s election, but he still may be able to form the coalition needed to stay in power.

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.

A powerful Democratic Senator looks like he’s about to be in a whole lot of trouble.

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

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

By a wide margin Americans think it was wrong of the GOP to invite Israel’s Prime Minister to speak to Congress.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is apparently realizing that speaking to Congress may not be a good idea after all.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu’s speech to Congress is becoming even more partisan, much to the apparent chagrin of the Israelis.