Hope for Change in Syria

Once again, Obama has proven more of an idealist than an implementer.

by Victor Davis Hanson

National Review Online

Remember when President Obama used to warn Syria’s Bashar al-Assad to stop his mass killing and step down? Continue reading “Hope for Change in Syria”

Is Benghazi Becoming a Watergate, or Iran-Contra, or Both?

by Victor Davis Hanson

NRO’s The Corner

Benghazi cannot be dismissed with “long ago” or “what difference does it make” exasperation, given it may have the cover-up and civil-liberties aspects of Watergate and the weapon-transfers and foreign-policy implications of Iran-Contra. Continue reading “Is Benghazi Becoming a Watergate, or Iran-Contra, or Both?”

An Irrelevant Middle East

Thanks to oil discoveries elsewhere, the region is losing its geostrategic clout.

by Victor Davis Hanson

National Review Online

Since antiquity, the Middle East has been the trading nexus of three continents — Asia, Europe, and Africa — and the vibrant birthplace of three of the world’s great religions. Continue reading “An Irrelevant Middle East”

Iraq–Agony, Ordeal, and Recovery

by Victor Davis Hanson

PJ Media

I. The Case for Invasion

Wise

The Bush administration built a broad domestic coalition and an adequate foreign alliance (more inclusive than the UN-sanctioned effort against North Korea in 1950). Continue reading “Iraq–Agony, Ordeal, and Recovery”

Iran 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0

by Victor Davis Hanson

Tribune Media Services

On the campaign trail, presidential candidate Barack Obama once called for a “reset” policy with Iran. Supposedly, the unpopularity of the Texan provocateur George W. Bush and his administration’s inability to finesse “soft power” had needlessly alienated the Iranian theocracy. Continue reading “Iran 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0”

War Is Like Rust

by Victor Davis Hanson

Tribune Media Services

War seems to come out of nowhere, like rust that suddenly pops up on iron after a storm.

Throughout history, we have seen that war Continue reading “War Is Like Rust”

Hagel, Brennan, and the Obama View of the Middle East

by Victor Davis Hanson

NRO’s The Corner

The Meaning of Hagel and Brennan

Chuck Hagel and John Brennan, given their long public service, will probably be confirmed. Their appointments will have a force-multiplying effect on our new foreign policy as it pertains to the Middle East. If one were to collate their speeches and more unfortunate statements, a surprisingly similar view of the world after 9/11 emerges. Continue reading “Hagel, Brennan, and the Obama View of the Middle East”

Democracy Promotion or Islamist Promotion?

by Bruce Thronton

Frontpage Magazine

The hope that democracy would bloom in Egypt following our collusion in removing Hosni Mubarak looks more and more delusional every day. Even our foreign policy wishful thinkers are no longer peddling the canard that the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood is “secular” and “moderate,” thus proving that Muslims devoted to the global expansion of Islam and illiberal Sharia law can be liberal democrats friendly to our interests. But despite being mugged by the Islamist reality, too many democracy promoters in the West still refuse to acknowledge that the Iranian Revolution, not the American Revolution, is the likely model for the so-called “Arab Spring.” Continue reading “Democracy Promotion or Islamist Promotion?”

T-Ball War in the Middle East

by Victor Davis Hanson

Tribune Media Services

Classical explanations of conventional wars run something like this: An aggressor state seeks political advantage through military force. It has a hunch that the threatened target will likely either make concessions to avoid losing a war, or, if war breaks out, the resulting political gains will be worth the military costs to achieve victory. Continue reading “T-Ball War in the Middle East”

World Order, Under Siege?

by Victor Davis Hanson

Defining Ideas

What seems sometimes incomprehensible in the contemporary world makes perfect sense — if we pause and study a little history.
Continue reading “World Order, Under Siege?”