After 20 years and $2 trillion, the US is quitting Afghanistan in roughly the same place we found it.

Democracy sounds great, and works better than anything else we've come up with to run the shop - but it's no autopilot.

"Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside of enigma." It still is, but it may not be our riddle.

The US and the reshuffling of the Great Game.

Father's Day in Managua - beautiful scenery, social unrest and government violence.

Zersetzung! The East German art of sowing chaos and discord. As a tactic, it still has its fans.

To abandon Taiwan to her fate is more than about shower flip-flops. It's about the 21st centrury.

As Murff prepares for the release of Pothole of the Gods, another pothole forms in the Holy Land

The US quitting Afghanistan will lead to tragedy. So will an endless war. Pick your poison.

The Libyan Hostage Crisis, US Intervention & Regime Change

Vladimir Putin would like for NATO to rot, and is cultivating the conditions to make it happen.

After nine years of civil war, Libya has a national interim government. Will this one stick? Do they ever stick as well as we remember?

The framers of the constitution looked to Rome for guidance. Not to build an empire but to avoid one. Results have been mixed.

You rid us of Saddam.” He touched his heart, “But what was your plan? For after?” The man didn’t seem angry, just genuinely baffled.

Thoughts on the US Syria gambit - and game theory.

The El Draque is cocktail history, even if we're calling it the mojito now. But there is no reason to be a twit about the mint.

One part rum, three parts yanqui imperialism, and an imaginary dollar.

Zarif makes a persuasive argument. On the other hand, not trusting people further than you can throw them is no reason not to like them.

Every night for the last week they come out at precisely 8:00 o’clock to bang the pots and pans, the traditional exorcism for evil spirits.

Noxious though it is, we need government to provide some stability if we are going to be something other than house cats.