Ivan Eland

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to Washington to collect his payoff for being disgruntled over the agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program, which was signed by that country and the world’s great powers. Although President Obama and Netanyahu seem to personally dislike each other, because of Israel’s clout in the American domestic political system with … Continue reading “No Payoff for Netanyahu”

Republican candidates have justifiably complained about sensational "gotcha" debate questions from the media designed to generate conflict in order to spike ratings, thus raking in cash. Instead, time would be better spent trying to extract illuminating policy differences from among the candidates. However, this phenomenon is not new. For the past 35 years at least, … Continue reading “Republicans Are Right – Presidential Debates Need More Substance”

Because more than 50 percent of voters are women and the United States hasn’t had a woman leader in a long time, many want to re-elect Hillary Clinton. Although given that her track record during the two years that she was in charge of the country was disastrous, if re-elected, she probably wouldn’t be any … Continue reading “Republican Buffoons Have Given Hillary the Democratic Nomination; Let’s Look at Her Record”

Obama’s recent decision to leave American troops in perpetuity in the Afghanistan War, despite a fourteen-year failed attempt to remodel the country, is as unsurprising as it is appalling. Applicable is what Secretary of State John Kerry famously said, as a decorated Vietnam War veteran, about that conflict as it futilely stretched on: "How do … Continue reading “Endless War Makes Us Less Safe”

As both parties hold presidential debates, issues in the nation’s foreign policy inevitably will be discussed. After all, although the U.S. Constitution actually gives Congress more authority in foreign and defense policies than the president, chief executives, ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt, have wielded the constitutionally narrow role of commander-in-chief too broadly, so as to … Continue reading “Voters Should Demand a Strategic Vision in Foreign Policy From Candidates”

The villainous Vladimir Putin is pretending to hit ISIS targets in Syria, but instead has his aircraft striking other opposition groups in that country, including what U.S.-supported "moderate" rebels still exist, according to the Obama administration. Apparently, the administration is aghast that Russia would act in its own interests in Syria, even though U.S. interests … Continue reading “Russia Versus the United States in Syria”

While the American media was enamored by the charismatic pope’s "historic" visit to the United States (I seem to remember popes have visited before), more important earthly developments occurred. The leaders of the next two most powerful countries in the world (after the United States) did or were scheduled to meet with President Obama, and … Continue reading “Reality and Symbolism in Public Affairs”

Much of the media buzz surrounding Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s regal visit to the United States centered around a limited agreement to prevent cyber hacking. Although that pact is needed, perhaps more attention in U.S.-China relations should be given to dangerous flashpoints in the South and East China Seas. In these places, the two nuclear-armed … Continue reading “Let’s Not Get Into It With China”

The United States has by far the greatest military dominance in world history – both absolutely and relative to other great powers at its time in history – to back up its foreign policy. Such a potent, offensively oriented force is hardly needed for the defense of what the nation’s founders realized was perhaps the … Continue reading “Wacky US Foreign Policy”

The American response to the Syrian civil war and resulting refugee crisis should illustrate to all the unfortunate militarization of U.S. foreign policy. The nation’s anti-militaristic founders – who blanched at the militarism of European kings and thus refused, in the US Constitution, even to authorize a standing army – would be horrified. And militarism … Continue reading “US Response to Syrian Civil War and Refugee Crisis Is Telling”