Outside the Beltway

The American military personnel system works against keeping the best and brightest officers in the service.

John P. Wheeler III, chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund during the Ronald Reagan era, has been murdered.

The lawyer who argued The Pentagon Papers case points out how Julian Assange is not Daniel Ellsberg, and how prosecuting him could have disastrous results for press freedom in the United States.

A new Gallup poll reflects the declining role of religion in American public, and private, life.

Is Jon Stewart the next Edward R. Murrow? No.

WikiLeaker Bradley Manning has been held “under conditions that constitute cruel and inhumane treatment and, by the standards of many nations, even torture” for seven months and counting.

One of the most active American diplomats of the past twenty-five years has passed away.

Even though it will likely be unsuccessful, a primary challenge against President Obama could end up harming him enough to hand Republicans the White House in 2012.

According to a new Gallup poll, President Obama is not only less popular than George W. Bush, but the only president from the last half century less popular is Dick Nixon.

In my former home state of Alabama, Republicans won every major contest, save the one House seat specifically drawn to ensure a Democratic victory.

David Broder offers up some odd ideas on the relationship between a war with Iran and the economy.

To earn a Medal of Honor commit a multi-part act of near comic-book-style heroism and, more often than not, die. Pentagon committees then convene to determine whether your valor merits an award traditionally given for acts so brave that no one would have even thought to complain if the soldier had neglected to do them.

The military surge in Afghanistan appears to be having little impact on the Taliban.

Virginia’s answer to Joe Biden has put his foot in his mouth once again. It won’t prevent him from getting an 11th term.

Tom Brokaw notices something peculiar about the campaign debates: Nobody’s talking about Iraq or Afghanistan.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates acknowledged in a newly released letter that the Wikileaks Afghan War document dump wasn’t as damaging as the Pentagon initially claimed. So what was the uproar all about?

Arnold Schwarzenegger predicts President Obama’s re-election. Historically, that’s the safe bet.

Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections were marked by another round of allegations of widespread voter fraud, once again bringing to the forefront the question; what exactly are we trying to accomplish in Afghanistan ?

Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta is the first living recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.

Aging Vietnam vets are being treated for diabetes and other ailments unrelated to their service on the taxpayers’ dime. We can’t afford it.

Another round of primaries last night made the playing field for November just a little bit clearer to see.

Conservatives seem very eager for Hillary Clinton to get back on the campaign trial, but it’s not going to happen.

American Conservatism has changed significantly since the days of William F. Buckley Jr. One former National Review editor says that it’s changed for the worse.

While President Obama is pushing the Afghanistan surge, large numbers of elected Democrats are demanding we get out.

Will the Wikileaks document dump give even further impetus to the growing sentiment that the United States needs to leave Afghanistan ?

The Taliban have a new secret weapon: Monkey terrorist soldiers.

Is Ann Coulter’s defense of Michael Steele’s Afghan War skepticism the beginning of conservative split, or just an attempt to pile on President Obama ?

It’s going to be much harder for reporters to get access to the military thanks to new rules announced last night by the Pentagon.

Senator Robert Byrd has died at 92, after years of poor health.

The public is growing tired of America’s Longest War.