Before I get started here, I should state upfront that I haven’t seen either of these movies, but will nonetheless argue that two recent romantic comedies — “It’s Complicated” (2009) and “He’s Just Not That Into You” (2009) — have a lot to say about US foreign policy. The thing is, you probably don’t have … Continue reading →

If Gandalf told you to do X and Homer Simpson told you to do Y, you would likely do X. But what if Yoda agreed with Homer? What would you do? This is the situation we face with respect to Afghanistan. Hank Crumpton, a career CIA operations officer who led paramilitary teams in-country after September … Continue reading →

Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) made waves with their recent proclamation that the Taliban is actually stronger today than it was two years ago, when the United States “surged” additional troops into Afghanistan. The Washington Post recaps: When asked if the Taliban’s capabilities have been degraded since Obama deployed the additional … Continue reading →

On March 6, President Barack Obama criticized the Republican presidential candidates for their recent statements about Iran’s nuclear program: Now, what’s said on the campaign trail — those folks don’t have a lot of responsibilities. They’re not Commander-in-Chief. And when I see the casualness with which some of these folks talk about war, I’m reminded … Continue reading →