Memories of 9/11 and its Aftermath
My experience that day, and its immediate aftermath. Less dramatic than many others. But perhaps still of interest.
War on Terror
After Toppling Al Qaeda, America Wasted a Staggering Amount of Money in Afghanistan
There will likely never be a full accounting of the war's cost, but as much as $600 billion might have simply vanished due to waste, fraud, and incompetence.
The Card Counter Is an Unexpectedly Powerful Anti-War Film
Paul Schrader's story of an ex-military torturer is a searing tale of violence and redemption.
What Fear Does to Our Freedom
COVID-19 and 9/11 both created opportunities to restrict our liberties in the name of keeping us safe.
Biden Won't End the Warfare-Surveillance State
National security reporter Spencer Ackerman on 9/11, mass surveillance at home, and failed wars abroad.
America's Post-9/11 Surveillance Authorities Were Inevitably Turned Against Its Own Citizens
We were warned about the dangerous power of the USA PATRIOT Act. Edward Snowden proved that critics were justified.
Americans Are Souring on Mask Mandates and Warrantless Surveillance: Poll
Plus: Tipped minimum wage kills jobs, how the U.S. "helped" out women in rural Afghanistan, and more...
A Clear and Present Lack of Danger
We can stop obsessing about Islamic terrorists crossing the Southern border.
Americans Cheer Afghan Departure, But Criticize Chaotic Management
Shameful scenes like those in Kabul don’t have to happen if we avoid military interventions.
Afghanistan Withdrawal Is 'Ending an Era' of Failed Nation-Building, Says Biden
In a speech aimed at proponents of perpetual war, the president refused to apologize for exiting Afghanistan.
Viral Video of Man Hanging From Taliban Helicopter Wasn't What It Appeared To Be
But numerous politicians and war hawks were duped by seeing what they wanted to see.
America's Longest War Is Over
Plus: Backpage on trial, Texas abortion providers ask SCOTUS to stop ban, vegan "butter" and "cheese" are safe, and more…
Was It a U.S. Drone or an ISIS Attack That Killed 3 Adults and 7 Children Outside Kabul?
The deadly Sunday explosion is a reminder of the hundreds of civilians U.S. strikes have killed in Afghanistan.
Libertarians Correctly Predicted the Afghanistan Fiasco
The hubristic idea that America could successfully nation-build in Afghanistan was a bipartisan delusion for nearly two decades.
Kabul Attack Is a Vivid Reminder of Why America Should Leave Afghanistan ASAP
The Pentagon says 12 Americans were killed and 15 more wounded in a pair of suicide attacks near the Kabul airport. At least 60 Afghans died as well.
The Taliban Is No Excuse To Crack Down On Secure Tech
Breaking encryption technologies always makes us less safe, no matter what the justification.
The Taliban Got Their Hands on American Military Gear Because We Invaded Afghanistan, Not Because We Withdrew
After a nearly 20-year occupation, this was one inevitable outcome.
The Afghanistan Lessons America Refused To Learn
A U.S. agency spent 13 years documenting our government's failure to stabilize or rebuild the country.
We Will Keep Spending Trillions on the Afghanistan War Long After the Last Soldier Leaves
The final price tag could eventually exceed $6 trillion, and American taxpayers will be paying the tab when the 50th anniversary of 9/11 arrives.
Nothing Was Gained From 20 Years in Afghanistan
Why did it take presidents so long to realize this?
Don't Excuse Biden for His Botched Afghanistan Withdrawal
You can both support withdrawal and recognize its failed execution.
Biden's Determined Humility Regarding Afghanistan Is What America Needs Right Now
"I will not repeat the mistakes we've made in the past," Biden said Monday.
Daniel Hale Revealed America's Drone Assassinations to the Public. He's Been Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison.
Federal espionage laws are used once again to punish a whistleblower.
Donald Rumsfeld, Architect of Disastrous 21st Century Foreign Policy, Dies at 88
Upon his passing, it's worth remembering how badly things can go when a man has such great power, even a man with elements of conventional decency.
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.
A Declassified Case Against Torture
Retired FBI agent Ali Soufan argues that the agency's thirst for torture made it harder to protect Americans.
U.S. Troops Were Supposed To Leave Afghanistan on May 1. Biden Will Keep Them There Until September.
After nearly 20 years, America's longest war could soon be over. But delaying withdrawal for what seems like symbolic reasons is questionable.
The Public Has No Real Way of Knowing How Many Troops Are Actually in Afghanistan
By playing with definitions, the military is able to keep more troops in Afghanistan than it publicly reports.
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.
From 9/11 to COVID, Every Emergency Means Bigger Government
We have to stop governing by emergency.
FBI Arrests Activist Daniel Baker Over Posts About Police Abuse and Self Defense
Plus: The aftermath of the New York Times' anti-Pornhub crusade, and more...
Americans Shouldn't Be Treated Like ISIS Insurgents
Adopting "counterinsurgency" tactics for use against wide swaths of Americans can only make the situation worse.
Don't Let the Capitol Riot Become an Excuse for Expanding Government Power
The federal government should prosecute those people who committed acts of vandalism or violence. However, we should be leery about giving the feds additional powers.
Don't Let Biden Sink Troops Back Into the Afghanistan Quagmire
We have an agreement to pull out by May. We should honor it regardless of the state of the country.
'See Something, Say Something Online Act' Punishes Big Tech for Not Snitching
Plus: Oregon decriminalizes hard drugs, Kroger closes stores over hazard pay rule, and more...
More than 100 Civil Rights Groups Agree: We Don't Need New Domestic Terrorism Laws
Their letter to Congress warns about inevitable abuses against religious and racial minorities.
Don't Let the Capitol Riot Reignite the War on Terror
Government grows in response to a crisis.
Our Post-9/11 Response Deprived Us of Liberty and Didn't Stop Terrorism. Let's Not Venerate or Expand It.
We don’t need new tools or agencies to track alleged domestic terrorists.
Goodbye, Trump. Hello, War on Domestic Terror.
Plus: Biden pushes 8-year path to citizenship, Parler is back, Josh Hawley's book finds new publisher, and more...
Don't Let the Capitol Riot Become a 9/11-Style Excuse for Authoritarianism
Frightening events create openings for attacks on civil liberties.
Will Obama Torture Apologists Make a Triumphant Return to Joe Biden's White House?
His rumored candidate for CIA director, Michael Morell, is raising alarms.
A Partial Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal Prompts Predictable Political Backlash
For some, Trump’s troop drawdowns are too fast and too much. In reality, they’re too little and way too late.
Edward Snowden, the Surveillance State, and the 'Dark Mirror' Still Watching Us All
National security journalist Barton Gellman talks about "the surveillance-industrial state," the possibility of a Biden presidency or a second Trump term, and his gripping new book.
Florida Man Spits on Cops While Claiming to Have Coronavirus. Justice Department Accuses Him of 'Bioweapon Hoax.'
The War on Terror gave us federal anti-terror-hoax laws. Now the FBI is using them to punish a man who falsely claimed to have COVID-19.
If Bloomberg's Arrogance Worries You, His Weaselly Positions on Presidential Power Won't Reassure You
The presidential candidate reserves the right to wage unauthorized wars, kill Americans in foreign countries, prosecute journalists, and selectively flout the law.
America Has Given Up Trying To Define Success in Afghanistan
"Most of the [indicators] of measuring success are now classified, or we don't collect it," the special inspector general for the Afghanistan reconstruction told a Senate committee.
