Congress Sanctions a Syrian Government That No Longer Exists
The Caesar Act was meant to punish Bashar Assad’s government. It’s now a serious obstacle to Syria’s reconstruction.
Syria
CNN Presented a Syrian Jailer as a Torture Survivor
The fiasco around the “Syrian prisoner” filmed by CNN demonstrates that sometimes institutions aren’t the best judges of misinformation.
Syria's Rojava Revolution Is in Grave Danger
Turkey is taking advantage of the power vacuum in Syria to crush the Kurdish-led anti-authoritarian uprising. And it's not clear what the U.S. wants.
Softer Image?
Plus: An end to NYC's migrant shelters, a major quantum computing advancement, and more...
Why Socialists Are Cheering the Death of an Insurance CEO
Plus: A listener asks the editors if libertarians are more prone to believing in conspiracy theories.
What's Left For the U.S. To Do in Syria?
The Syrian civil war is over, at least for now. But the Biden and Trump administrations both seem keen on shaping the outcome—and U.S. partners are gearing up to invade.
Assad Gone at Last
Plus: AOC ascendant, China preps for tariffs, Haitian deportation, and more...
Outlaws on Pickup Trucks Accomplish What $1 Billion in CIA Money Couldn't
The CIA spent four years trying to overthrow the Syrian government. It failed. But a former leader of Al Qaeda might do it in a few weeks.
Meet Trump's Incredibly Confusing New National Security Cabinet
Establishment hawks will be running the State Department and National Security Council, but Trump has peppered in some antiestablishment mavericks too.
Trump's Reported National Security Advisor Supports Bombing Russia and Afghanistan
Mike Waltz has called for a “credible military option” against Iran, wants to “take the handcuffs off” Ukraine, and regrets ending the "multi-generational war" in Afghanistan.
The Classic Neocons Are Out, but They Might Still Get What They Want
Even without Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley, the Trump administration still could be heading for regime change in the Middle East.
Tim Walz Is Against Unaccountable Wars—but He Voted To Fund Them Anyways
While the former congressman cares a lot about war powers, he has often flip-flopped on actually enforcing Congress’ red lines.
Biden Brags That 'the United States Is Not at War' As He Bombs Yemen
The wars aren’t over. America is still fighting—directly and indirectly—in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
J.D. Vance Condemned Neocons—Then Called for the Same Middle East Policy
The close Trump ally tried to argue that more aggressive U.S. policy in the Middle East would help the U.S. get out of the Middle East.
Biden Sends U.S. Forces To Protect Israel's Borders for the First Time Ever
Washington quietly funded Israeli-Iranian proxy wars for years. Now American men and women are directly involved.
Will American Troops Be Sucked Into an Israeli-Iranian War?
President Biden said that we will “do all we can to protect Israel’s security” after Israel killed an Iranian general.
How the Threat of Genocide Sparked a Multi-Ethnic Revolution in Syria
In Statelet of Survivors, Amy Austin Holmes shows why the Syrian Kurdish revolution is no longer just for Kurds.
Endless War Continues
Plus: An immigration deal that's already collapsing, more expensive Big Macs, and Taylor Swift (because why not).
The U.S. Is Done In Iraq
U.S. officials ritualistically tout their respect for Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but every U.S. president over the last three decades has bombed Iraq in some way.
The Good Samaritans Who Saved Syrian Refugees
When government relief efforts fail, individuals step up.
Why Are American Troops Still in Iraq and Syria?
Our troops are just sitting there with targets on their backs. Why?
The Two Faces of Ron DeSantis
Sometimes he calls for freedom, and sometimes he preaches something darker.
Recent Airstrikes Are Our Periodic Reminder That We're Fighting a War in Syria
Four years after IS was officially defeated, the U.S. continues to keep hundreds of troops in Syria to fight the vanquished terrorist group.
In Syria and Turkey, Helping Earthquake Victims Is a Crime
Politicians in Syria, Turkey, and the United States are getting in the way of relief efforts.
Biden Can't Have It Both Ways on Drone Strikes
If the combat mission is over in the Middle East, Biden should follow—and make permanent—more cautious drone guidelines.
Biden Told Congress U.S. Troops Are Fighting in the Middle East. Now He Says They Aren't.
He claims he'll be "the first president to visit the Middle East since 9/11 without U.S. troops engaged in a combat mission there." But that's not true.
Sanctions on Syria Aren't Punishing Assad. They're Hurting Syrians.
Piling on sanctions and blocking other countries' reconstruction efforts will only punish the Syrian people.
Ukraine and Double Standards on Refugees
Critics are right to point out that some Western nations are treating Ukrainian refugees better than those fleeing similar horrific situations elsewhere. But the right way to address the problem is to increase openness to other refugees, not exclude Ukrainians.
Biden Defends the Military's 'Preparation and Precision' in a Counterterrorism Operation That Killed Syrian Kids
Multiple children died in the raid, but so did the leader of ISIS—which makes the operation “successful” in the Pentagon’s book.
Strikes on U.S. Troops Show the Need To Withdraw From Iraq and Syria
Biden rightly stuck to his guns when he defended the long-overdue U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, but he fails to apply the same logic elsewhere.
Will America's Military Reckon with the Reckless Murders Perpetuated by Its Drone Wars?
A new, heavily investigated report shows a Pentagon uninterested in correcting its deadly errors.
Airstrikes Against U.S. Troops in Iraq Highlight Dangers of Our Presence in the Middle East
Keeping American boots on the ground means keeping them in harm's way.
House Votes To Repeal 1957 and 1991 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force
Repeal would do little to change how Congress and the president collaborate—or don't—on military operations.
The Publication of the Pentagon Papers Still Sets an Example 50 Years Later
Whistleblowers and publishers are crucial for keeping government officials reasonably honest.
America Is Back to Bombing Syria
Plus: Remembering Steve Horwitz, Oregonians can temporarily pump their own gas, and more...
The Bipartisan War on Work
Urban Democrats may be leading the charge, but Republicans, too, have enlisted.
My New Washington Post op ed on Biden, Syria, and War Powers
I argue that the recent air strike was legal, but overall US military intervention in Syria still lacks required congressional authorization. Biden may be trying to change that; but history gives reason for skepticism.
Biden Indicates Openness to Replacing War Authorizations with "Narrow and Specific" Framework
This initiative might help restore congressional control over war authorization. But there is reason for skepticism that it will pan out.
Biden Says He Wants War Authorizations Repealed
Just keep an eye on the small print. The wars might officially end while still allowing inappropriate military meddling.
The Constitution and Biden's Syria Air Strike
The strike was probably legal (as were similar small-scale strikes by Trump). But there are serious constitutional problems with the overall US military presence in Syria.
Why Is America Still In Syria?
Trump brought chaos to a region already on the brink, and the unintended consequences of his actions will reverberate for years to come.
A Kurdish Experiment in Decentralized Governance
The Kurds of Northern Syria are trying something different, for better or worse.
The Madcap Scheme to Take Syria's Oil
American troops are risking their lives to defend Syrian oil fields, but U.S. law is stopping anyone from using the oil. One man tried to “fix” the situation—or was it a con?
Rand Paul's Case for Ending America's Wars
"Intervention after intervention hasn't had the intended consequence. We've got more chaos."
Stossel: Rand Paul Wants to End America's Wars
The Kentucky senator makes the case for less American military involvement abroad.
Does the Demise of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and His Caliphate Vindicate 2014 Rand Paul?
The senator took a lot of heat five years ago for being anti-interventionist in Syria yet pro-war against ISIS.
