David Vitter: Bad Policy and Fuzzy Math

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If this fundraising appeal from Louisiana Senator David Vitter for his campaign to defeat the Law of the Sea Convention weren’t so dishonest and misleading it would be hysterical. Ok, actually, it’s still amazingly funny. For starters, the note includes a header at the top that reads “Personal & Confidential.

The Transatlantic Alliance’s Afghan Strains

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For some time now, transatlantic analysts have warned that the NATO deployment of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and US troops in Afghanistan is on the precipice of unraveling, and with that will usher in grave questions and implications for the future of NATO and transatlantic ties.

Site Redesign

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I had to laugh when I read this blog comment about my site redesign. I’m relieved that we are moving to a “new look” and owe a brilliant guy — named Andrew — a ton for making this come together.

O’Hanlon’s Brookings Benchmarks

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I’m a “criteria guy.” We are going through a hiring process at the New America Foundation, and I am one of the folks who harps a lot about establishing criteria for decisions. But I think that these criteria should be obvious to all.

State of Play?

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Yesterday, I lunched with Last King of Scotland Director Kevin McDonald on the set of his new film, State of Play. McDonald told me that on Saturday he and Russell Crowe and some others were racing a car in a scene around the Library of Congress.

They Knew They Were Right: The Rise of the Liberal Interventionists?

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Jacob Heilbrunn has ‘penned’ a fascinating, no punches pulled essay on Samantha Power’s resignation and her place in the foreign policy establishment. I don’t agree with all of it and am myself a Samantha Power fan who thinks that, more than most, she has the ability to think somewhat strategically about ethereal global justice problems….

The Politics of Fear, Part II

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It’s true, I’ve given Hillary Clinton a harder time for her fear-based messaging than I’ve given Barack Obama for his. Well, I have my reasons.

Russia: Wait and See

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John McCain pushed to suspend Russia’s membership in the G8 as early as 2005. Hillary Clinton says she looked into Vlad Putin’s eyes and saw that he didn’t have a soul and she says nothing will change with Dmitry Medvedev’s election. Barack Obama’s position seems pretty similar.