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.

Rand Paul’s Drone Crusade Needs a Slight Adjustment

The media seemed to treat Rand Paul’s query to Attorney General Eric Holder about the targeting with drones of U.S. citizens on American soil as kinda kooky – that is, implying that it could never happen in the great United States. Nationalistic war hawks, such as Senators Lindsay Graham and John McCain, also pooh poohed … Continue reading “Rand Paul’s Drone Crusade Needs a Slight Adjustment”

Rodmania in North Korea

Sometimes the common man–or not so common man, such as basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman–can teach elite media, politicians, and diplomats a thing or two. The media largely billed Rodman’s visit to North Korea to see its young leader as "bizarre," or "the weirdest encounter." They also deemed "disastrous" his interview on ABC’s "This … Continue reading “Rodmania in North Korea”

Hold US Policymakers to Their Abysmal Record on Foreign Meddling

The United States and Saudi Arabia appear to be ramping up aid to the Syrian rebels. Here we go again on the road to debacle. Why? The media never holds anybody to either their predictions or their results–officeholders, politicians, and of course their own pundits. And it’s a good thing for people like Bill Kristol, … Continue reading “Hold US Policymakers to Their Abysmal Record on Foreign Meddling”

‘Widespread Pain’ of the Sequester Not So Draconian

Recently, The New York Times ran an alarmist editorial about the "widespread pain" that would be inflicted on the American government and people by the budget "sequester." If no legislative action is taken, the sequester will make across the board budget cuts (some exceptions exist, such as Social Security and pay for enlisted military personnel) … Continue reading “‘Widespread Pain’ of the Sequester Not So Draconian”

Obama’s Drone War Could Legally Kill Americans But Not Anywhere

Although so far, President Obama seems to have less warlike inclinations than George W. Bush (perhaps damning by faint praise) – getting out of Iraq, finally scheduling to mostly pull out of Afghanistan, and going against all national security advisers by refusing to lethally arm Syrian rebels – in one area he seems more bellicose. … Continue reading “Obama’s Drone War Could Legally Kill Americans But Not Anywhere”

Ron Paul’s Statement on Sniper’s Death Not ‘Appalling’

Former congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul is being roundly criticized for his Twitter comment on the killing of celebrated former sniper Chris Kyle. The sniper was gunned down by former Marine Eddie Routh at a Texas shooting range while Kyle was attempting to help Routh overcome his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from service in … Continue reading “Ron Paul’s Statement on Sniper’s Death Not ‘Appalling’”

‘Stupid’ Republicans

Bobby Jindal, Louisiana’s Republican governor, bluntly called his party the "stupid party." He also said that, "The Republican Party does not need to change our principles…but we might need to change just about everything else we do." This stupidity was recently on display when House Republicans and especially grandstanding Senate Republicans melodramatically grilled the now … Continue reading “‘Stupid’ Republicans”

Foreign Policy and Defense in a Second Term

John Kerry and Chuck Hagel–two of the best mainstream nominees that President Obama could have selected for Secretaries of State and Defense, respectively–will soon face Senate confirmation. With these nominees, hopefully Obama is signaling a veering away from interventionism to a long overdue, restrained foreign policy. During the first term, to his credit, Obama ended … Continue reading “Foreign Policy and Defense in a Second Term”

An Ally Out of Control

As in the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, an aggressive France threatens to pull the United States into another brushfire, nation-building war in the developing world. This time it is in the West African state of Mali. The French have panicked because Islamists, who earlier took over northern Mali, began to move toward southern … Continue reading “An Ally Out of Control”

Split Decision on Obama’s National Security Nominees

In the revamp of his national security team for a second term, President Obama gets a mixed review. Barring an unlikely presidential post-re-election epiphany leading to a radical scaling back of the American Empire, Obama probably got the best mainstream candidates for Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense that could be had. Both John … Continue reading “Split Decision on Obama’s National Security Nominees”