President Obama came to office inheriting the legacy of one unnecessary war, and another that had faded from memory. He will leave office with Iraq and Syria in crisis, Europe uneasy, Yemen and Libya unstable breeding grounds for terrorism, and China doing whatever it is they’re doing.
Another day, another military escalation in the Middle East.
Marine special operations forces have called themselves “Raiders” for years. Now it’s official.
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.
Seymour Hersh is out with a conspiracy theory about the death of Osama bin Laden that just doesn’t make sense.
There must be something odd in the water in the Lone Star State, because a bizarre conspiracy theory seems to have taken root there.
ISIS apparently now has a foothold in Libya, and is making inroads in Yemen.
Explaining my ambivalence around the latest escalation in our intervention.
Pressure is building on the Administration to send military aid to Ukraine, but it would be a very bad idea.
U.S. troops will be in Afghanistan for at least the next three years.
Despite the President’s assurances of an international coalition, the rest of the world doesn’t seem all that interested in joining the fight.
Obama’s current policy—tactical level strikes with no obvious long-term strategic aim—may well be the best we can hope for.
End game? Or the potential spark of a wider war?
In the end, the separatists in eastern Ukraine have always been expendable as far as Vladimir Putin is concerned.
Provocative words from Vice-President Biden. But, are they realistic?
A rather impressive recovery from a career that was mostly dead in 2007.
Hundreds are dead as Egypt’s military government crack down on supporters of the democratically elected government they ousted.
A state of perpetual war is incompatible with good mental health and stable family relationships.
A decade ago. a certain New York Times columnist was more right than your humble host.
When Glen Coffee abruptly retired from a promising NFL career, most wondered what he was up to. Now we know.
Two polls indicate that most Americans oppose the President’s latest moves on Syria. This makes sense considering actual policy there seems to be entirely incoherent.
Apparently, Benghazi has not faded (at least not for some).
A former Navy SEAL charges that Blackwater snipers killed American citizens in New Orleans during Katrina’s aftermath.
American troops may now earn the fourth highest combat medal from the comfort of their desk chair.
A group of former special operations and intelligence officers are criticizing President Obama for “Dishonorable Disclosures.”
US Army Special Forces are the best we have at working with far-flung villagers. Are they good enough?
My latest for The National Interest,Insurmountable Obstacles in Afghanistan, has been posted.
CWO2 Edward Cantrell, a decorated Special Forces veteran, died trying to save his daughters Isabella and Natalia from a house fire.
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the green beret as the official headgear of US Army Special Forces.