Ivan Eland

Oftentimes when the U.S. superpower intervenes in the business of other nations, after US troops withdraw, the American people lose interest and the country disappears from the consciousness of the public. For example, after the Vietnam War in the 1970s, the exhausted and disgruntled American public no longer cared what happened to the poor, faraway … Continue reading “Recognize That Iraq Is History”

Rather than a contest between two or three viable candidates, U.S. presidential elections have historically been a referendum on the administration holding power. With at least some awareness of this fact, Republican candidates are busy criticizing President Barack Obama’s foreign policy and desperately trying to link Hillary Clinton, his former Secretary of State and still … Continue reading “Republicans Candidates Bashing Obama Over Iran Forget Bush’s Role”

Two former presidents have recently been in the news for unfavorable reasons. Recent DNA testing showed that Republican Warren Harding, already believed to have had an extramarital affair with at least one mistress, likely had a love child with another, perhaps confirming the second one’s tell-all book about their affair written in the 1920s after … Continue reading “Presidents Who Have Exceeded Their Historical Reputations”

Since 9/11, the United States has flailed away and attacked or invaded at least seven Muslim countries. (I say "at least" because, in contravention of the U.S. Constitution, American presidents now run secret overseas conflicts, including the latest drone wars, without public knowledge or the consent of their representatives in Congress.) Since U.S. (non-Muslim) military … Continue reading “Scorecard on US Interventionism”

After the hysteria stirred up by the Islamic State lopping off a few heads in a faraway land, including those of a very small number of Americans, Republicans running for president fell all over themselves in beating the drums of war. That response was predictable, given public opinion polls that showed Americans, horrified from media … Continue reading “The Republicans Need To Debate Foreign Policy”

The United States and Turkey have reached an agreement, long sought by the Turks, to establish a safe zone in Syria to insulate Turkey from the multi-sided civil war in Syria and to provide a sanctuary to which many of the two million Syrian refugees now in Turkey can be repatriated. In return, the Turks … Continue reading “Helping Turkey Create a Safe Zone in Syria Is Not a Good Idea”

It is nothing short of amazing that the Obama administration was able to get an ever – hostile Iran to drastically reduce its nuclear program, to which it has a right as a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, for 10-15 years. Iran has been hostile to the United States since the Iranians ousted the … Continue reading “Iran Nuclear Agreement Is Good, But Ratification Process Is Not”

In March 2011, President Barack Obama succumbed to French pressure and led the NATO alliance from behind in bombing the Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. At the time, Obama was criticized for not letting the United States remain in the forefront of eliminating odious regimes through the use of military power. Given the results of post-Gaddafi … Continue reading “Lessons from Obama’s War in Libya”

After Greece thumbed its nose at Greece’s international creditors by voting "no" in a referendum to their most recent bailout offer, negotiations with Greece on further bailouts should have been summarily terminated. Alexis Tsipras, the leftist prime minister of Greece, was audaciously attempting to use the vote to strengthen his hand with these creditors. He … Continue reading “Say ‘No’ to Greek Financial Irresponsibility”

In withdrawing from negotiations with Greece’s international creditors and holding a referendum on whether Greece should adopt the further austerity required by the lenders’ financial aid package, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras figuratively pulled out a gun and threatened to blow a hole in the life raft that was given to his country in an … Continue reading “Let Greece Exit the Eurozone”