The Venezuelan oil deal, the Panama Canal, and our American values

Man in suit overlooking tropical canal construction site

Almost 125 years ago, critics of President Teddy Roosevelt described another world-changing deal in Latin America as an un-American imperialist adventure despite having no solution of their own beyond the fantasy that countries will magically become modern democracies thanks to the power of words alone. In 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt secured a deal with the… Continue reading The Venezuelan oil deal, the Panama Canal, and our American values

Rosie the three-legged dragon and the munchkin invasion, part three

Rosie Contemplates the Feast

After mommy wrongfully punished her for playing with the munchkin, banishing her to the inside of the lair for the second time that same day, Rosie planned to run away from home until deciding it would be a good idea to eat first. This is the third part of Rosie’s latest adventure.  You can catch… Continue reading Rosie the three-legged dragon and the munchkin invasion, part three

Iran: Do we need or want a deal at this point?

Balance scale with coins and stones overlooking a desert oasis at sunset

After both of our previous attempts failed largely because Iran has proven completely unable to stop firing missiles for no seemingly sane reason, it appears to be a good time to reconsider our options. Before we begin, I should come clean:  Throughout the conflict with Iran I have consistently advocated to make an even less… Continue reading Iran: Do we need or want a deal at this point?

Rosie the three-legged dragon and the three days of night, part three

Carlitos Drowning in the Pool

When we last left our confused heroine and her untrustworthy brother, Carlitos had fallen into a pool they thought was a lake or a moat, and with no way out and no way for Rosie to save him herself, he was in danger of drowning, and that was just the start of her troubles. This… Continue reading Rosie the three-legged dragon and the three days of night, part three

Is Trump really desperate for a deal in Iran or is time much more on our side than widely reported?

Wooden king chess piece on a chessboard under a focused light.

Why would a man that’s supposed to be desperate beyond belief to end hostilities with any kind of deal, refuse one that was on the table, and make a reasonably big show of going back and forth about it? According to conventional wisdom, President Donald Trump is desperate to make a deal with Iran.  Like… Continue reading Is Trump really desperate for a deal in Iran or is time much more on our side than widely reported?

The strange state of the conflict in Iran and why Republicans better hope something happens soon

Three abandoned rusted tanks in muddy battlefield with destroyed buildings in the background at sunset

The war has entered a sort of slow moving stasis rather than anything resembling the frenetic pace of the first five weeks and time is running out to pivot to the midterm elections. I’ll admit it upfront:  I didn’t expect the Iran War to devolve into a non-ceasefire ceasefire for almost a full month.  While… Continue reading The strange state of the conflict in Iran and why Republicans better hope something happens soon

Iran: The experts have been wrong about almost everything

Operations room with cracked digital map of the Middle East showing countries and regions

It’s almost impossible to know where to begin with the sheer multitude of increasingly hysterical claims regarding both the day to day performance of our campaign and the broader economic and geopolitical repercussions, many of which were ridiculous from the start. As the conflict in Iran enters the third week of a shaky ceasefire with… Continue reading Iran: The experts have been wrong about almost everything

Iran: Is it all over but the crying?

Line graph showing stock index growth from January to June 2024 with 18.7% increase

While we remain at war, why do the markets seem optimistic about the future when they should be pessimistic in the face of these concerns, and is this an optimism that can last or simply a calm in the storm?  Though last weekend’s peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan failed to produce a deal between the… Continue reading Iran: Is it all over but the crying?

NATO just turned 77, but is it going down in the Strait of Hormuz?

Chessboard with France, Russia, and China flags on pieces; plaque reads FRANCE-RUSSIA-CHINA ALLIANCE.

As France joins forces with Russia and China at the United Nations, and makes a deal with Iran, supporters of the NATO alliance argue that it is a purely defensive affair. In that case, what purpose does it serve in the modern world? In one of the ironies that seem to increasingly define the modern… Continue reading NATO just turned 77, but is it going down in the Strait of Hormuz?

Reminder: The media and the experts always predict disaster when Trump is involved

U.S. Capitol building under a dark sky with a tornado, lightning, and heavy rain.

In his second term alone, there have been panicked freakouts about his plans to trim the size of government, tariffs, other taxes, military strikes, and more.  While this time might be different, I wouldn’t bet against the President. While I have no special ability to foresee the future and am well aware that past results… Continue reading Reminder: The media and the experts always predict disaster when Trump is involved