Outside the Beltway

My latest for The National Interest takes a contrarian view on the new National Defense Strategy.

When it comes to foreign policy, Donald Trump has no over-arching philosophy and little knowledge, so don’t expect anything approaching a coherent doctrine from his Administration.

The recent cooling of relations between North and South Korea has led to some talk of eventual reunification, but for many South Koreans that idea is a non-starter.

Americans were once largely united in their opinions about Israel and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. That’s not the case anymore.

President Trump is apparently pressuring the President of South Korea to give him the credit for talks between North and South Korea that the United States isn’t involved in at all.

While everyone is paying attention to the government shutdown, the Trump Administration is preparing for a never-ending, unwise, and unauthorized military commitment in Syria.

Thanks to Donald Trump, public opinion around the world about the United States is at its lowest level in ten years.

America’s closest allies sent a strong signal that they do not agree with President Trump on the nuclear deal with Iran.

Some progress on easing tensions between North and South Korea.

Donald Trump’s irrational tweets are once again focused on the leader of North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is extending an olive branch of sorts to South Korea while simultaneously claiming success in achieving a nuclear deterrent.

2017 was quite a year. 2018 promises to be just as interesting.

Is it time to reexamine Presidential authority to launch a nuclear strike?

A Fox News host has debunked the Uranium One conspiracy theory being pushed by his own network.

A preemptive attack on North Korea would be illegal, immoral and, most importantly, insane.

On North Korea, there are two options, deterrence and war. And only one of those options makes sense.

Squirrel!

While the President of the United States continues to create chaos, Xi Jinping consolidates his power in China.

Despite the fact that everyone seems to agree that Iran is complying with the nuclear weapons deal, President Trump took steps that will undermine that agreement and do serious damage to American credibility around the world.

Donald Trump is continuing to up the ante in his rhetorical war against one of America’s most fundamental freedoms.

Donald Trump continues to be as astoundingly ignorant about the most powerful weapons the U.S. military possesses as he was as a candidate.

Reports are indicating that President Trump will decertify the nuclear weapons deal with Iran. This would be a foolish and potentially dangerous mistake.

Tensions continue to rise between the White House and Foggy Bottom.

Donald Trump is undermining his own Secretary of State’s efforts on North Korea, and he doesn’t seem to care.

In a marked departure from previous American Presidents, Donald Trump delivered a highly belligerent speech to the U.N. General Assembly.

Notwithstanding his promises during the campaign, President Trump seems likely to go forward with sanctions reductions required under the nuclear deal with Iran.

The Trump Administration’s effort to impose sanctions against North Korea suffered a significant defeat in the United Nations Security Council.

Absent significant changes, expecting normal diplomatic relationships with the DPRK is a pipe dream.

More provocative action from North Korea, and another reminder that there are no easy answers to the problems represented by the Kim regime.

The people who would most immediately be impacted by a war on the Korean peninsula don’t seem quite so concerned. Perhaps we should take a cue from them.

Things are getting far more complicated on the Korean Peninsula. Diplomacy isn’t working, and a military option would most likely lead to disaster.

Another escalation on the Korean peninsula.

More provocation from Pyongyang.

Donald Trump seems to have an odd habit of sharing highly classified information with questionable people.

Iranian voters have re-elected Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate whose election in 2013 was largely responsible for the shifts in policy that made the international agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear research program possible.

During the campaign, Donald Trump promised to undo the nuclear weapons deal with Iran. Now his Administration is signaling that, at least for now, the deal will stay in place.

Another provocative move by North Korea.

South Korea has elected a new President who breaks with his impeached predecessor in favoring dialogue with the North.

North Korea is pushing back against increased pressure from China over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

The North Koreans failed to successfully test a longer-range missile again yesterday, but tensions on the Korean Peninsula seem destined to increase in any case.

North Korea is threatening another nuclear test, the United States is threatening retaliation, and China is warning of a ‘gathering storm’ on the Korean Peninsula.

A warning to North Korea.

Malaysian police have evidence that seems to clearly link North Korea to the death of Kim Jong Il’s eldest son.

Trump’s combination amateur hour/tough guy approach is not going to make the world a safer place, nor will it advance US national interest.

In a closer than normal vote for the position, Rex Tillerson has been confirmed as Secretary of State.

Eliminating the department would mean parceling out most of its activities to other federal agencies, a sleight of hand maneuver that might create the appearance of smaller government but would disrupt the ordinary operations of the federal government. 

Even if you’re not sure who you should vote for, it’s obvious who you shouldn’t vote for.

One of the last survivors of Israel’s founding generation has passed away.

It wasn’t exactly Lincoln-Douglas but, in the end, Hillary Clinton clearly outperformed Donald Trump last night.

North Korea continues to advance its nuclear program but it’s unclear what anyone can do about it.