Doug Bandow

The drumbeat of war continues to roll across Europe. President Joe Biden is promoting an uncertain message, sometimes aggressive, other times restrained, as he talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. The Republican Party is more coherent but, as usual, runs from foolish to nutty hawkish. Merely reckless is former Pentagon official Dov … Continue reading “The US, Not Ukraine, Decides Whether America Defends Ukraine”

No matter the many crimes committed by the House of Saud, defenders rush to take up their cause. The Wall Street Journal’s Karen Elliott House was the latest. Readers can imagine tears cascading across her keyboard as she wrote about the plight of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which "is begging the U.S. for Patriot … Continue reading “Friends of the House of Saud: America Ever Owes the Royals Deference and Defense”

The world is a dangerous place, but not particularly for America, which is allied with most of the known world. With large oceans east and west and pacific neighbors north and south the US is safe from invasion. Missiles may threaten but would trigger ruinous retaliation. Terrorism remains a worry but can do only limited … Continue reading “How Much Should America Spend To Fight China? And for What?”

Russia is threatening Ukraine, causing yet another "crisis" in Washington. Kyiv isn’t a formal ally let alone in NATO. Yet the foreign policy establishment talks and acts as if Ukraine was a member of the transatlantic alliance. Which could lead to war between Washington and Moscow. Yet defending Ukraine would be no cakewalk. Especially since … Continue reading “Washington Should Stop Reassuring Europe: Time for NATO Members To Grow Up”

Originally appeared at the American Institute for Economic Research. America remains the world’s most powerful nation, but foreign crises appear to be a constant for the Biden administration. Although Russia and Ukraine have grabbed the spotlight, before that the crisis-du-jour was China and Taiwan. And Beijing will pose the greater challenge over the long term. … Continue reading “Why China Behaves the Way it Does, and What To Do About It”

Normally one shouldn’t seek wisdom from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. After all, Freedom House gives the DPRK just three points out of 100, earning the label of "not free." (Actually, "not even friggin’ close to free" would be more accurate!) However, stunningly, Eritrea and Turkmenistan come in lower, with just two points each. … Continue reading “North Korea Doubts America’s Rules-Based International Order: And Pyongyang Gets It Right!”

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”