Kelley B. Vlahos

Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer, is a longtime political reporter for FoxNews.com and a contributing editor at The American Conservative. She is also a Washington correspondent for Homeland Security Today magazine. Her Twitter account is @KelleyBVlahos.

The Boob Tube Does Surveillance Porn

Author Aldous Huxley once wrote, “Government-through-terror works, on the whole, less well than government through nonviolent manipulation of the environment and of the thoughts and feelings of individual men, women, and children.” Writing this in 1958, Huxley hadn’t seen nothin’ yet. But the eerily perceptive futurist, who in 1932 published the ultimate government-through-nonviolent manipulation nightmare, … Continue reading “The Boob Tube Does Surveillance Porn”

Who’s Afraid of Peter Van Buren’s Book?

Foreign Service officer Peter Van Buren had an interesting week. Aside from getting a book published, he became a news-cycle celebrity of sorts in Washington — not for his book, per se, but for the fact that he might get fired for it. Reporters and bloggers quickly picked up on a column he wrote last … Continue reading “Who’s Afraid of Peter Van Buren’s Book?”

Meet the Empire Watchdogs

This is the first profile in an occasional series about individuals taking on the Goliaths of war from inside the belly of the beast — Washington, D.C. In Washington, there are those who rattle the sabers, and then there are those who use them. The Project on Government Oversight, or POGO, does both, and according … Continue reading “Meet the Empire Watchdogs”

Community Policing, Afghan-Style

Lal Mohammed says his 9-year-old son was stabbed and shot and left to die in a raid on his home. Another Afghan villager reported that a 17-year-old boy had been detained, beaten, and had nails driven into his feet. His injuries were so bad that his family packed up and left the country to get … Continue reading “Community Policing, Afghan-Style”

Surge Finally Getting a Second Look?

If he were to pat you on the back, you would list it on your resume. When in Rome, they do as he does. He is the life of parties he has never attended Sharks have a week dedicated to him. He is the most interesting man in the world. Just a few lines from … Continue reading “Surge Finally Getting a Second Look?”

Post-9/11: All Eyes on You

In the latest installment of a year-long advertising campaign on the Washington metro, subway riders are treated to a series of smart, mod photographs of leather-clad VPPs (very pretty people) who we assume are spies, operatives, or fugitives á la Jason Bourne. There’s a Carrie Moss with long hair, posing as though caught mid-mission, stilettos … Continue reading “Post-9/11: All Eyes on You”

Who Says Obama’s Bad for Business?

President Obama’s critics like to say he’s anti-business, and that he doesn’t understand, nor even like, the military. He is a Democrat, after all, so how could he? Well, we can say that’s fundamentally not true with only two words: Blackwater Worldwide. If Blackwater, the private security services company now known as Xe Services, which … Continue reading “Who Says Obama’s Bad for Business?”

Ron Paul’s Best Week

Campaign season’s here and the time is right, for bombast in the street. Right here on Main Street, USA, every  day, they’re bloviating in the street. Invoking Martha & the Vandellas might be fun, but the prospect of facing another 441 days of Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin or Mitt Romney invariably invoking God, … Continue reading “Ron Paul’s Best Week”

Muslims Smash Right-Wing Stereotypes

Of the many revelations and questions still unresolved following the recent riots in Britain, a novel yet not altogether surprising thread has emerged but has hardly been noticed by the mainstream media: These riots were not dominated, driven nor taken advantage of by angry, ghettoized, Shariah-demanding Islamists. Much to the chagrin, we can assume, of … Continue reading “Muslims Smash Right-Wing Stereotypes”

Iraqi Allies Scrambling for Exits

The list of what the authors call events over a “random 79 days in a 2,500 day-old war” is gruesome. 4/26/08 — Bahaa — DEATH — Death caused by multiple injuries sustained during torture 9/11/2005 — Dieyer — KIDNAP, DEATH — Abduction, death 6/29/04 — Lamees — DEATH — Shot several times in her arms … Continue reading “Iraqi Allies Scrambling for Exits”