Doug Bandow

Three decades ago Iraq’s Saddam Hussein invaded neighboring Kuwait. It was no contest. Hussein was vastly more ruthless than Kuwait’s emir. Iraq’s military was significantly larger than Kuwait’s armed forces. Hussein declared his conquest to be Iraq’s 19th province. However, President George H.W. Bush decided that Iraq’s aggression would not stand. The following February the … Continue reading “America’s 30-Year War Against Iraq: Bring the Troops Home”

The U.S. is the most militarized and warlike nation on earth. Most Americans don’t think of their nation that way. Indeed, stating this fact often generates anger and outrage. However, what other state has gone to war so often since the Cold War ended? Certainly not the countries most likely to be on the Right’s … Continue reading “When Should the US Go to War?”

As the Trump administration pushes the U.S. toward a new Cold War with China, it has become conventional wisdom that America’s opening to the People’s Republic of China "failed." Trading with the PRC and bringing it into the World Trade Organization were supposed to turn the communist state into a liberal democracy. Since that didn’t … Continue reading “Engagement With China Was a Success: Trade Helped Transform a Totalitarian State”

The sun never sets on the American Empire, which is no less extensive than the British Empire. What makes Washington’s imperial domain unique is that it regularly expands without conquest. Now members of the ever-hawkish Republican Party want make Taiwan an official defense client, with Washington promising to defend the island from the People’s Republic … Continue reading “Ready to Go to War? Republicans Beat the War Drums Over Taiwan”

U.S. policymakers long have viewed the Republic of Turkey as a critical ally. However, Ankara has been racing away from America. Today the former is more likely to impede than advance Washington’s policy objectives. Instead of desperately attempting to preserve the alliance, the US should set both nations free to act without any pretense of … Continue reading “Turkey Is No Longer Much of an Ally: US Should Say Goodbye and Set Both Nations Free”

You must break a few eggs to make an omelet, Washington’s social engineers apparently believe when intervening in other societies. Sure, a few people might die. Others might end up disabled or displaced. But think of all the good that will be done when America’s plans are realized for [fill in the blank country], which … Continue reading “Destroying Libya: It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time”

U.S. foreign policy is dominated by a constant search for allies. Big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak. It doesn’t matter. The more the merrier, rather like acquiring more Facebook Friends than anyone else, thereby winning bragging rights. This incessant search for new allies turned into farce with NATO’s celebration when Montenegro and … Continue reading “Allies Are Supposed to Help the US, but Americans Always Do the Paying”

Ben Rhodes, Barack Obama’s deputy national security adviser, unkindly characterized the foreign policy establishment in Washington, D.C., as "the Blob." Although policymakers sometimes disagree on peripheral subjects, membership requires an absolute commitment to U.S. "leadership," which means a determination to micro-manage the world. Reliance on persuasion is not enough. Vital is the willingness to bomb, … Continue reading “George Washington Tried To Warn Americans About Foreign Policy Today”

The 2020 election campaign is likely to get much uglier before November 3rd. Both parties face internal wars that will shape future U.S. foreign policy. In Democratic primaries younger progressive candidates continue to challenge establishment paladins. And leading members of the bipartisan War Party continue to fall. The latest Bigfoot loss appears to be Eliot … Continue reading “When George W. Bush Aides Back Joe Biden, You Know the Presidential Campaign is Getting Ugly”

Policymakers who spent years treating Russia as an enemy are now enraged over unverified claims that Moscow paid the Afghan Taliban to kill American military personnel. That would be outrageous, of course. Perhaps US policymakers now know how Soviet officials felt after Washington provided Stinger missiles and other weapons to the Afghan Mujahedeen to kill … Continue reading “Remember When America Killed Moscow’s Soldiers”