Ivan Eland

Ivan Eland is a senior fellow at the Independent Institute and author of Recarving Rushmore: Ranking the Presidents on Peace, Prosperity, and Liberty.

Another Imperial Quagmire?

Unbelievably, after experiencing 10 years of quagmire in Afghanistan and Iraq, the American foreign policy establishment is now clamoring for the institution of a no-fly zone in Libya. Luminaries on both the Left and the Right have endorsed the concept: for example, Senators John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, and John McCain. Even though the U.S. military … Continue reading “Another Imperial Quagmire?”

A Superpower Needs to Emulate an Economic Superhero

Despite its decline in academia, Keynesian economics is still alive and well in the American mainstream and business press. Recent developments in Estonia, however, should undermine that standing but probably won’t. The reason empirical evidence hasn’t driven a stake through the heart of the Keynesian vampire is because Keynes created this house-of-cards theory to justify … Continue reading “A Superpower Needs to Emulate an Economic Superhero”

Should the US Government Encourage Potential Darwin Award Winners?

The killing of four Americans by Somali pirates was tragic. No excuse exists for murder. But at the risk of seeming harsh, I believe there is much contributory negligence to go around. According to associates, the victims, afloat bourgeois missionaries and adventure-seekers, were well aware of the dangers of the waters near the pirate haven … Continue reading “Should the US Government Encourage Potential Darwin Award Winners?”

Did Reagan Win the Cold War?

My visit to the Reagan Ranch in the mountains near Santa Barbara, Calif., on the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth on Feb. 6, 1911, and today’s revolutions sweeping the Arab world got me thinking about how much Reagan actually had to do with his alleged signature achievement – winning the Cold War. Conservatives would … Continue reading “Did Reagan Win the Cold War?”

Across-the-Board Cuts Needed to Avoid Fiscal Armageddon

Although the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the federal budget deficit will soar to a peacetime record $1.5 trillion in 2011, President Barack Obama has offered a puny proposal to freeze domestic discretionary spending (excludes huge entitlement programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security) for five years. This proposal sounds much bolder than … Continue reading “Across-the-Board Cuts Needed to Avoid Fiscal Armageddon”

Tear Down This Wall (of Fame): Reagan’s Overrated Foreign Policy

A visit to the remote Reagan ranch in the mountains near Santa Barbara, Calif., on the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth set me thinking about Reagan’s foreign policy record. Conservatives have venerated Reagan for limiting government and winning the Cold War – alleged accomplishments that were either untrue or vastly exaggerated, respectively. Although various … Continue reading “Tear Down This Wall (of Fame): Reagan’s Overrated Foreign Policy”

A Hezbollah-Run Lebanon Poses Little Threat to US Security

With the rise of a Hezbollah-backed government in Lebanon, hand-wringing seems to be the order of the day in the American and Israeli governments. Hezbollah is a Shi’ite Islamist group that is the only Arab entity to have defeated Israel in armed conflict – the latest installment being a war in 2006. Yet as much … Continue reading “A Hezbollah-Run Lebanon Poses Little Threat to US Security”

Russian Arms Control Proposals Worth Considering

Although with the new treaty reducing deployed long-range strategic missiles (New START), an agreement on nuclear cooperation, and an arrangement to transport supplies for NATO troops in Afghanistan through Russia, U.S.-Russian relations are on the upswing, there is much more to be done. And Russian proposals should be taken seriously, because they might also serve … Continue reading “Russian Arms Control Proposals Worth Considering”

Don’t Expect Iraq to End Like Sudan

The American media continues to tout the reduced violence in Iraq without foreseeing the long-term potential for a resumption of severe ethno-sectarian violence and the absence of mechanisms – à la Sudan – to defuse it. The lull in Iraqi mayhem was mainly achieved by the U.S. bribery of Iraqi Sunni tribes (the “Awakening”) to … Continue reading “Don’t Expect Iraq to End Like Sudan”

Tea Party Should Emulate Clinton, Not Reagan

As the Tea Party migrates from the grass roots to the brier patch of the nation’s capital, sadly it will probably meet the same fate as other movements from “real America” who tried to plow new ground in Washington – in the ash heap of history. The governmental juggernaut always seems to take minor hits … Continue reading “Tea Party Should Emulate Clinton, Not Reagan”