Doug Bandow

In the US July 4th is all about America’s independence. The creation of the new republic on the North American continent – and even more so its survival in an imperial world and transformation into the globe’s most powerful nation – is an extraordinary, and some would say miraculous, story. Looking back through the mists … Continue reading “Independence Day 2021: Needed, a Foreign Policy for a Republic”

In recent years, the U.S. government has turned starvation into official policy. Determined to force hostile states to bend to its will, Washington increasingly imposes economic sanctions, using America’s financial dominance to penalize foreign individuals, companies, and even governments. The Trump administration turned starving already impoverished peoples into a fine art. Among its prime targets … Continue reading “The Sanctimonious Destruction of Syria: Washington Starves Syrians To Save Them”

The Biden administration continues its military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Opposition from the U.S. foreign policy establishment known as "the Blob" is fierce. Most Washington policymakers would have American military personnel stay in Afghanistan forever, or at least until the Second Coming, plus a few extra years, just to be safe. The president’s plan naturally is … Continue reading “Withdrawal From Afghanistan Must Continue: Afghan Government’s Potential Collapse Is Another Reason To Leave”

President Joe Biden recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, causing some complaint in Washington. After all, the latter runs an authoritarian state. To highlight his public commitment to democracy, Biden told the press: "I made it clear to him that I believe the consequences of [opposition leader Alexei Navalny dying in prison] would be … Continue reading “The Biden Administration Is Committed to Human Rights: Except When It Isn’t”

Last week President Joe Biden attended the latest NATO summit but achieved nothing of note, other than reaffirming America’s promise to defend Europe even if the Europeans won’t do so themselves. However, he did reject the attempt by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to force the alliance to admit Kyiv. Adding Ukraine as a defense dependent … Continue reading “US Should Close the Door to Ukrainian Membership in NATO”

President Joe Biden is visiting Europe, spreading hugs and kisses to lovelorn European officials traumatized by Donald Trump’s oft-expressed disdain. Fearful that the good times of American security guarantees might end, Europeans contemplated a world in which they might have to do their own heavy lifting when it came their defense. Oh, the horror, the … Continue reading “Another NATO Summit, Another Endless Subsidy for Europe”

Fifty years ago the Pentagon Papers exploded politically in a nation weary of the Vietnam War. Daniel Ellsberg worked on a Defense Department study about Washington’s involvement in Vietnam. He was so appalled with the findings that he leaked the document to the New York Times. The embarrassed Nixon administration sought to block publication. Attorney … Continue reading “Five Decades After the Pentagon Papers: Presidential Lies and Foolish Forecasts”

President Joe Biden has proposed his first budget and the Pentagon won’t go without. Biden followed his Republican predecessor in pushing higher military spending. Although the proposed increase, from $740 billion to $753 billion, isn’t a lot, he invited Congress to spend more by playing the Washington game of underestimating expenditures for politically popular programs. … Continue reading “Cut Military Spending, but Restrain Foreign Policy First”

Even the biggest, toughest, meanest movie characters go wobbly when facing the Great Panda. At least when Chinese nationalism demands they kowtow to its demands. The latest Hollywood wimp who plays a real man on screen is John Cena. The former wrestler, when promoting his role in Fast & Furious 9, stated that Taiwan was … Continue reading “Taiwan Is a Country in All But Name: Still, That Doesn’t Mean America Should Defend It”

Two successive U.S. administrations were complicit in war crimes in Yemen. The Saudi royals did the killing, both directly through air strikes and indirectly through a blockade. Tens of thousands of Yemeni civilians have died in more than six years of conflict. However, America provided, armed, refueled, and serviced Saudi warplanes. Washington also dispensed targeting … Continue reading “The US Cannot Bring Peace to Yemen, But It Can End America’s Involvement in Yemen’s War”