Doug Bandow

America always has had political leaders who appeared to fear, even hate, peace. Teddy Roosevelt was one. However, at least Roosevelt got his hands dirty. Today the most fervent warmongers, unlike Roosevelt, typically never go near a battlefield. However, they remain busy. The bipartisan War Party is pushing for confrontation and possible war with Iran, … Continue reading “How Many Wars Does Washington Want? And for What?”

The world seems in chaos, a dream come true for Washington’s War Party as it continues to press for a battle or two on every continent. However, this campaign for perpetual intervention and endless war by the Blob, as the foreign policy establishment is known, has lost public support. Even President Joe Biden, a captive … Continue reading “Why the War Party Insists Intervention Is Always Necessary”

Can’t America ever walk away? Like an abused spouse, Washington keeps returning to the Middle East and prostrating itself before vicious dictatorships, antediluvian monarchies, sectarian oppressors, lazy looters, and selfish aggressors. Washington’s latest kowtow to all came from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when he spoke on Saturday before the Manama Dialogue, a security conference in … Continue reading “Joe Biden Said He Was Against Endless Wars: But His Defense Secretary Is for Endless Entanglement”

Newly inaugurated President Joe Biden gave Americans hope of a major change in US policy toward human rights in general and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular. He promised to treat Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, responsible for numerous crimes and atrocities, as a well-deserved "pariah." When Biden spoke at the State Department shortly … Continue reading “Saudi Arabia Makes Fool of President Biden: Continues Yemen War and Domestic Repression”

Biden administration diplomats are wandering Europe warning about a potential invasion of Ukraine. It makes one wonder if the Biden crowd – it is unclear who, if anyone, is in charge of the administration these days – is hoping for a fight over Ukraine. Perhaps "a splendid little war," as the Spanish-American War was called, … Continue reading “Does Biden Administration Want War With Russia?”

Political relations between Moscow and Beijing appear closer than ever. The Chinese and Russian militaries are cooperating. Although the two authoritarian giants aren’t likely to embark upon a campaign of world conquest, Washington has done much to bring together unlikely partners in opposition to US policy. Americans should remember history. In summer 1939 Germany appeared … Continue reading “US Arrogance Encourages Sino-Russian Military Alliance”

Nuclear weapons are terrible, but that gives them greater deterrent power. However, few of America’s allies have them, so Washington has promised to fight potentially multiple nuclear wars on their behalf. It is a great deal for countries that have spent decades cheap riding on the US. With the Biden administration involved in a "nuclear … Continue reading “Europeans Refuse To Defend Selves, Demand US Go To Nuclear War for Them”

As if President Joe Biden didn’t have enough trouble to deal with, he now is supposed to rescue imprisoned Americans around the globe. Last weekend relatives of a couple dozen citizens and residents held overseas sent an open letter to the president demanding action. Organized by the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation – journalist Foley … Continue reading “Whose Life Is It Anyway? – US Government Is Not Responsible for Saving Errant Americans Around the World”

Sometimes really smart people are really stupid. Not just stupid, but malign. Such is the case of Sen. Ted Cruz. The presidential wannabe joined many seemingly principled Republicans in opposing Donald Trump in 2016, but then did the ritual political pirouette and kowtow, submissively embracing Trump’s presidency. Little is more dangerous than burning ambition in … Continue reading “The Stupid Arrogance of Ted Cruz: Opposes Peaceful Diplomacy While Fomenting Economic War”

Originally appeared at the American Institute for Economic Research. The world is a mess, and conservative politicians talk about increasing “defense spending.” This has obvious appeal. After all, who can be against defending the country? The problem is that most of America’s military outlays have nothing to do with defense. From 1789 to 1947, the … Continue reading “Military Spending Is Not the Same as Defense Spending”