Armed Conflicts

National Security Adviser McMaster

The Military Now Runs US Foreign Policy The Military Now Runs US Foreign Policy

And as Trump’s recent turnabout shows, the establishment will brook no dissent from the reigning orthodoxy.

May 2, 2017 / Patrick Lawrence

north korea marines

Donald Trump Has Zero Legal Authority to Order Military Action Against North Korea Donald Trump Has Zero Legal Authority to Order Military Action Against North Korea

Without congressional authorization, military action would “clearly and unequivocally be illegal and unconstitutional,” says Congressman Jerrold Nadler.

Apr 28, 2017 / John Nichols

YPG and US military

Is Turkey’s War on Syrian Kurds Becoming a War on the United States? Is Turkey’s War on Syrian Kurds Becoming a War on the United States?

President Erdogan seems to believe he can bully Trump into abandoning his allies in the fight against ISIS.

Apr 28, 2017 / Juan Cole

Syrian children display books from the White Helmets

Militarism and Diplomacy Aren’t the Only Options in Syria Militarism and Diplomacy Aren’t the Only Options in Syria

If we want to help Syrians end the war, we need to put them at the center of the conversation.

Apr 26, 2017 / Mariam Elba

Putin Speech

Mounting Incitements to War With Russia Mounting Incitements to War With Russia

Villainizing the Kremlin—without much evidence—for crises from Washington and Europe to Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan is increasing the possibility of a US-Russian war.

Apr 26, 2017 / Audio / Stephen F. Cohen

Trump speech

Donald Trump Is the President Our Military Leaders Always Dreamed About Donald Trump Is the President Our Military Leaders Always Dreamed About

Don’t fool yourself—Donald is anything but an isolationist.

Apr 24, 2017 / Tom Engelhardt

Mike Pence at the DMZ in Korea

How Our Foreign-Policy Elites Manufactured the Korea Crisis How Our Foreign-Policy Elites Manufactured the Korea Crisis

The attack on the Syrian airfield was a message to North Korea and China—and a demonstration of Trump’s capitulation to the imperial clique.

Apr 20, 2017 / Patrick Lawrence

People protest after Russian hacking allegations.

Why the New Cold War Is More Dangerous Than the Preceding One Why the New Cold War Is More Dangerous Than the Preceding One

Questionable but orthodox Cold War narratives make actual war with Russia more likely than during its 40-year predecessor.

Apr 19, 2017 / Audio / Stephen F. Cohen

Drought in Syria displaces millions

The Other Poison Gas Killing Syrians: Carbon Dioxide Emissions The Other Poison Gas Killing Syrians: Carbon Dioxide Emissions

If Trump and his cronies really cared about children killed by noxious gases, they wouldn’t be trying to spew ever more CO2 into the atmosphere.

Apr 18, 2017 / Juan Cole

US Navy sailors

Why We Can’t Afford to Send More Troops to the Middle East Why We Can’t Afford to Send More Troops to the Middle East

Pursuing such policies would all but hand victory to ISIS and other extremist groups.

Apr 18, 2017 / Danny Sjursen

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