Doug Bandow

Another Memorial Day, another holiday filled with politicians rhapsodizing about the valiant sacrifices of courageous military men and women. Freedom isn’t free, we are told, as high officials extol the armed services for protecting Americans’ liberties. It sounds so glorious. Especially eloquent tend to be the chicken hawks and summer patriots who had "other priorities" … Continue reading “How To Honor Memorial Day: Stop Sacrificing Troops in Endless Wars”

Many observers have been mystified by the Saudi regime’s hold over President Donald Trump. For years he had criticized the gaggle of corrupt, dissolute royals. He also asked why Americans were paying to defend the wealthy, licentious al-Saud family, as it practiced totalitarianism at home and promoted Islamic fundamentalism abroad, including in America. Yet Trump … Continue reading “The Trump Administration Kills Coldly in Yemen, Putting Jobs Before Lives”

Ben Rhodes, who served as President Barack Obama’s deputy national security adviser, labeled the nation’s foreign policy elite as "the Blob." Members of this well-educated, well-connected group disagree on peripherals but agree on essentials of foreign policy. Their almost unanimous bottom line is that the U.S. government must run the world. The result over the … Continue reading “The Foreign Policy Blob Strikes Back: We’re Just Fine, Proclaim Architects of Endless Wars”

It has been nearly a decade since Libyan dictator Moammar Khadafy suffered an ugly demise at the hands of insurgents. Few mourned his passing. When asked about his fate, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cackled maniacally: "We came, we saw, he died." American and European officials declared success. Another dictator down, freedom on the march, … Continue reading “Ten Years After Regime Change: Libyans Are Dying Because of American Arrogance”

The Trump administration is edging America toward the exit in Afghanistan, nearly two decades after President George W. Bush intervened in the aftermath of 9/11. The U.S. quickly dispersed Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda and ousted the Taliban, only to spend the following years failing to build a stable, liberal democracy centered in Kabul. America’s extended … Continue reading “Two Decades of War in Afghanistan Is Enough”

Washington’s policy toward Korea – both Koreas, actually – isn’t going well. President Donald Trump calls the North’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un his "friend," but Kim might be on his deathbed, incapacitated, or just hiding out to confuse his adversaries. In any case, the two haven’t talked since last summer, after a brief handshake while … Continue reading “Time To Get the Hell Out of Korea”

After five years of bloody, inconclusive war, Saudi Arabia declared a ceasefire in Yemen. Although hailed as a possible breakthrough for peace, Riyadh’s de facto admission of defeat did not stop the fighting. Moreover, even an effective ceasefire would be at best a halfway measure. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should end its invasion and … Continue reading “Withdraw US Support From Saudi Arabia”

President Donald Trump entered office saying that he wanted a better relationship with Russia. Instead, the two governments edged closer to conflict. The administration increased sanctions on Moscow, expelled Russian diplomats, expanded military assistance to Ukraine, and inserted more troops and money into NATO for Europe’s defense. U.S. and Russian forces directly confronted each other … Continue reading “Pandemic Brings US and Russia Closer Together and Washington Hawks Panic”

Iraq is now on its third attempt to choose a prime minister. Parliament has requested the government to expel American troops. The Trump administration’s economic war against Iran has strengthened hardline factions, which remain determined on revenge for the January assassination of Qasem Soleimani. U.S. officials admit that deterrence against Iran and Iraqi militias has … Continue reading “Withdraw from Iraq and Stop at Least One Endless War”

Testimony Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa Introduction Without doubt, the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) represents a significant failure of U.S. policy. However, such a reverse was not entirely unexpected. The Iraqi government … Continue reading “The Rise of ISIS: Iraq and Beyond”