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

No, the real problem with Ceuta being invaded by 60,000 migrants isn’t Republicans or other right wing politicians, it’s the invasion itself

World map with refugee silhouettes walking along migration paths across continents

The Atlantic makes the bizarre argument that conservatives are responsible for 60,000 people storming a peaceful beach in a Spanish territory in North Africa while completely ignoring the obvious role of lax immigration policies around the world. Last week, much of America and the rest of the world was shocked by videos from Ceuta, a… Continue reading No, the real problem with Ceuta being invaded by 60,000 migrants isn’t Republicans or other right wing politicians, it’s the invasion itself

No, Iran isn’t the same as before and they’re certainly not stronger

Two abstract human figures fighting on a broken chessboard with scattered chess pieces and crumbled architectural ruins around them.

Unless they’re the equivalent of an alien organism out of a science fiction film, not subject to any of the normal limitations of government, economics, or military might, the death of a leader in power for almost forty years and a trillion in damage will have an effect. As we continue to celebrate America’s 250th… Continue reading No, Iran isn’t the same as before and they’re certainly not stronger

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

The choice facing Iran, and the reality that most of us aren’t all hawk or all dove all the time

Balance scales with crude oil barrel and cash on one side, globe and missile on the other

From where the average American sits, the choice facing the leaders of Iran seems like no choice at all, but after Saturday’s peace negotiations failed to produce a deal, it clearly is to the remnants of the regime and no one really knows what they will choose, however much they may bloviate otherwise.  Throughout the… Continue reading The choice facing Iran, and the reality that most of us aren’t all hawk or all dove all the time

The MAGA split over Iran is real for now, but not necessarily forever

New York City skyline viewed through a spiderweb pattern of cracked glass.

Some might insist the media has been wrong time and time again, there’s no risk of a permanent break happening now.  To me at least, that is a misguided perspective.  Because something hasn’t happened, does not mean it will not happen. While some prefer to cling to nonsensical polls insisting 100% of President Donald Trump’s… Continue reading The MAGA split over Iran is real for now, but not necessarily forever

While much of the world is kicking and screaming, Trump is almost singlehandedly dragging us into the future

Trump Future

It certainly isn’t pretty at times, but beyond death and taxes, there have been two certainties throughout my life, the Middle East was a strange and scary place from which terrorists launched attacks and communism was a creeping, insidious threat. Trump is finally addressing them both. At the risk of dating myself, I was born… Continue reading While much of the world is kicking and screaming, Trump is almost singlehandedly dragging us into the future

No, killing your enemy’s leadership isn’t a sure fire way to lose a war whatever the experts claim

General George S. Patton

The legendary General George S. Patton once quipped, “No dumb bastard ever won a war by going out and dying for his country. He won it by making some other dumb bastard die for his country,” but the experts have suddenly decided otherwise based on at least two false assumptions. On Tuesday, Israel reported that… Continue reading No, killing your enemy’s leadership isn’t a sure fire way to lose a war whatever the experts claim

Iran: Call it regime change, unconditional surrender, or whatever you like so long as whoever’s in charge at the end agrees to a few key things

While we do not yet know what sort of government will emerge in Iran, the President is adopting a policy much closer to the success of World War II’s unconditional surrender than the failure of the Iraq War’s regime change.  Last week, President Donald Trump demanded nothing less than unconditional surrender from Iran to end… Continue reading Iran: Call it regime change, unconditional surrender, or whatever you like so long as whoever’s in charge at the end agrees to a few key things