Drone Race to a Known Future

For drone freaks (and these days Washington seems full of them), here's the good news: Drones are hot! Not long ago – 2006 to be exact – the Air Force could barely get a few armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the air at once; now, the number is 38; by 2011, it...

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Why Most Counterinsurgency Wars Fail

In recent history, very few counterinsurgency wars have ended in success. Guerrillas are often outgunned by a wealthier invading power, but they do have two powerful advantages. One is that they are fighting on their home turf, which they usually know much better than...

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Stop, Look, Listen

We hear daily reports that President Obama has made this or that decision about how many more troops to send to the Afghan front; the numbers vary. This Reuters report headlines "four options" the president is considering, but then names only three: sending...

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Tuesday: 3 Iraqis Killed, 5 Wounded

Updated at 11:28 p.m. EST, Nov. 9, 2009 The Turkish government unveiled a new peace plan that promises to end a 25-year-long guerilla war with the Kurdistan Workers Party. Meanwhile, at least three Iraqis were killed and five more were wounded in the latest violence.
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90,000 Casualties, but Who’s Counting?

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect new data on total casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans Day arrives tomorrow, and with it, the anticipated harvest of heartbreaking anecdotes driving the press coverage and our ever wandering attention...

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Blazing Afghanistan

Afghanistan has become a Mel Brooks movie. President Hamid Karzai handpicked an election commission that threw the election his way. UN overseers declared the election was crooked and decreed that a runoff was required. Karzai didn't want to face a runoff, but John...

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Monday: 3 GIs, 5 Iraqis Killed; 16 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 10:20 EST, Nov. 9, 2009 Iraq is awaiting the presidential commission’s approval of Jan. 21 as the date for the next national election. Yesterday’s passing of a contentious elections law was necessary before a polling timetable could be set. Meanwhile, at least five Iraqis were killed and 16 more were wounded across Iraq. Also, three U.S. servicemembers were killed. three U.S. servicemembers were killed.
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A Line in the Sand

Mahmoud Abbas is fed up. Last week he withdrew his candidacy for the coming presidential election in the Palestinian Authority. I understand him. He feels betrayed. And the traitor is Barack Obama. A year ago, when Obama was elected, he aroused high hopes in the...

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