Macron-China

Macron chooses China over U.S., rebuking Biden's state visit honor. The French president offers eloquent words but a capricious disregard for the defense of the democratic international order.

  

Qatar World Cup

World Cup 2022: Foreigners deliver successes amid Qatar's failings. The tournament is a fun watch thus far. But Qatar has very little to do with that.

Gianni Infantino

FIFA president Gianni Infantino's extraordinary own goal. With his absurd rant, Infantino has utterly destroyed the credibility of soccer's global governing body.

Qatar beer

World Cup 2022: Qatar's beer debacle should be the final nail in FIFA's coffin. That the international soccer body has allowed this rollercoaster of absurdity is inexcusable.

Ukraine fog

A lesson for Ukraine and me on the fog of war. We should have been more careful before blaming Russia for the missile incident in Poland.

Poland incident, Biden-Xi meeting

The apparent Russian missile strike in Poland is a major escalation. A deliberate attack veiled as an accident would flow with recent Russian strategic shifts. And Poland is a NATO member state.

Talking is good, tempting fate is bad. Biden is right to talk with Xi but it would be a grievous error to take Xi at his word.

Marines and China, Diplomatic Security Service

On its 247th birthday, the Marine Corps can celebrate being the military branch most serious about China. The Marines are undertaking controversial but necessary reforms in the pursuit of victory.

The Diplomatic Security Service is near breaking point. Overwhelmed by protection missions, the agency lacks the manpower and resources to fulfill its mission.

Kherson retreat, GOP Congress on China, GOP Congress on Russia

Crimea, politics, and why Russia had to retreat from Kherson. The top line is that Vladimir Putin could not risk an encirclement Ukrainian offensive that cuts off Crimea's land corridor to Russia.

How would a Republican controlled House affect relations with China? More hawkish policies on tech, academia, and defense are likely coming.

A Republican controlled House is not going to abandon Ukraine for Russia. The consensus of the Republican Party remains firmly in Ukraine's favor and skeptical of Moscow.

Iran assassination plots

Iran is escalating its assassination plots in the West. The U.S. and its allies must respond with a clear warning.

Scholz-Beijing

Waltzing in Beijing, Germany's Olaf Scholz plays the U.S. for a fool. The Chancellor is betraying critical U.S. interests by replicating Merkel's mercantilism-at-all-costs China policy.

Netanyahu-China

Congratulating Benjamin Netanyahu, the U.S. must issue a clear China warning. The Israeli prime minister in waiting cannot return to his pro-Beijing policy of old.

Russia/Iran vs. Ukraine

Russia and Iran's self-defeating gambit to freeze Ukraine. They lack the means to sustain their offensive action and the prospect of using it to achieve Ukrainian concessions.