Doug Bandow

Originally appeared at the American Institute for Economic Research. During the Cold War Republicans took the lead in pushing for ever-increasing military outlays. Pushing expenditures upward was one of President Ronald Reagan’s priorities and led to constant battles with the Democratic House. Today, however, GOP members are pushing on an open door. Last year Congress … Continue reading “How Will America’s Borrow and Spend Politicians Pay for an Imperial Foreign Policy?”

Reprinted with permission from the American Conservative. Washington is a world apart. A war the United States supposedly isn’t waging hangs over the imperial city. Americans imagine they are at peace, but the Biden administration, backed by most members of Washington’s foreign policy elite, is waging a proxy war (and then some) against Russia in … Continue reading “What if Russia Is Winning America’s Proxy War in Ukraine?”

Originally appeared at the American Institute for Economic Research. A new year dawns bright, with the US hurtling over the fiscal cliff. The lame duck Congress voted for a pork-packed $1.7 trillion budget bill. As the saying goes, it’s only money! At a time of enormous domestic need, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell pushed an … Continue reading “When Federal Interest Payments Come To Exceed the Military Budget: Time To Stop Defending the Rest of the World”

Originally appeared at the American Institute for Economic Research. President Joe Biden visited Northeast Asia last month. As if possible involvement in a European nuclear conflagration wasn’t enough, he threatened China with war over Taiwan, and pledged to defend the Republic of Korea from its northern antagonist. Now he is off to the Middle East, … Continue reading “US Celebrates Alliance With Seoul: But Is South Korea Worth a Nuclear War?”

The ultimate peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia will depend heavily upon battlefield outcomes. No one knows how the war is going to turn out. Even most of Kyiv’s friends expected Moscow to quickly overwhelm its neighbor. Instead, Ukraine rebuffed Russia’s overconfident, mismanaged opening offensive. Soon Kyiv and its allies began imagining victory, even recovering … Continue reading “Ukraine Wants Security Guarantees To Stop Fighting: If Americans and Europeans Won’t Battle for Kyiv Today, Why Would They Do So Tomorrow?”

The war in Ukraine has increased fear of conflict in the Asia-Pacific. China has threatened to force reunification with Taiwan, which could trigger war with the US. However, North Korea might be even more dangerous. It is speeding development of a nuclear deterrent to America. That is, building nuclear weapons and long-range missiles (ICBMs) to … Continue reading “Expanding Sanctions Won’t Halt North Korea’s Nuclear Program”

Republican politicians have worked assiduously to win votes by posing as defenders of religious liberty. They aren’t always faking. However, the GOP’s military interventions in the Middle East have been singularly destructive, doing much to drive Christians and other religious minorities from the region. Ultimately, President George W. Bush, along with his Republican followers and … Continue reading “The Destruction of Iraq’s Christian Community: Another Legacy of George W. Bush’s Invasion”

President Joe Biden is off to the Middle East. He apparently plans to welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – ole "Slice ‘n Dice," when it comes to journalistic critics – in from the cold. The president is abandoning the pretense that human rights motivate his administration. Of course, this should come as no … Continue reading “President Joe Biden Heads to the Mideast: Plans to Abase Himself Before Saudi Royals”

Last week the US and its allies were busy. Both the G7, an exclusive club for Western industrialized states, and NATO, whose 30 members include military midgets like Montenegro, met in Europe. Both gatherings included ostentatious promises of continuing robust military support for Ukraine. Indeed, taken at their word, there is nothing America and Europe … Continue reading “The Russo-Ukrainian War Continues to Kill, Maim, and Destroy: Is the Biden Administration Fueling the Conflict?”

Russia and Ukraine are at war, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have spent more than seven years attempting to subject Yemen, Syria continues to smolder, and Iraq remains a sectarian powder keg. The US is deeply involved militarily in all these conflicts. Yet worse could come. China is threatening Taiwan, which enjoys an informal … Continue reading “What if Washington Can’t Attract the Men (and Women) Necessary To Police the Globe?”