Outside the Beltway

International options with respect to Syria are limited and likely to have little impact on the governments treatment of civilians.

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

A legendary American soldier, General John Shalikashvili, has died.

A bomb blast in Oslo’s government center has killed at least two people and a presumably related shooting spree at a nearby children’s camp are being investigated as terrorist related.

Is NATO prepared for what happens when they win?

The US handing Libya over to NATO is “like Beyonce saying she’s ceding control to Sasha Fierce!” – Jon Stewart

A Tea Party favorite gets asked a tough question,and a Fox News host finds himself forced to apologize.

Is Gaddafi offering a way out?

Congress had a chance to send a strong message to the Executive Branch today. They failed.

Is Congress set to vote to authorize military action in Libya?

President Obama is expected to announce the withdrawal of the 30,000 Surge troops.

Contrary to what Senator McCain, seeking realism in military policy does not make one an isolationist.

President Obama overruled his top legal advisors in deciding that the Libya operation does not amount to “hostilities” under the War Powers Act.

The White House’s assertion that Libya isn’t covered by the War Powers Act isn’t being accepted on Capitol Hill.

The Obama Administration tells Congress that it doesn’t need to comply with the War Powers Act because the Act does not apply to the mission in Libya.

Dennis Kucinich and nine other Members of Congress are suing the President. They won’t get very far.

WaPo’s Jackson Diehl asks, “Will the GOP nominate a dove?”

My latest piece for The Atlantic, “Is the U.S.-European Relationship Really in Decline?” is posted.

The US spends a lot on defense relative to, well, the rest of the world.

The War Powers Act’s 90 day limit is in sight. Will Congress force the president’s hand?

The American public is increasingly skeptical of foreign adventurism. Why aren’t our political candidates reflecting that?

Clearly there’s a large ambiguity in the Constitutional gap between the two separate war-related powers of Congress and the Executive. The WPA can be seen as an attempt to resolve it but can’t if it’s unconstitutional.

Despite what appear to be the fond hope of European central bankers that it will just all go away, something needs to be done. But what?

The House of Representatives has voted 416-5 for a resolution prohibiting President Obama from sending ground troops to Libya

While President Obama has had some amusing gaffes on his trip to London, including getting the year wrong in the guest book and an awkward toast to the Queen, his speech to Parliament today hit all the right notes.

A summary of the status of the “Arab Spring” uprisings with links to news coverage and commentary.

The Obama Administration is offering an odd explanation for why it doesn’t need to comply with the War Powers Act.

It has now been 60 days since American involvement in Libya commenced. Congress has failed to act, and that’s their fault.

The 60 day deadline for Presidential discretion under the War Powers Act will expire next week. Congress won’t do anything about it.

The question of how the world’s most wanted man could’ve hidden in plain sight in Pakistan continues to be asked.

An aide’s compliment about the president “leading from behind” has generated controversy.