David Ignatius's Blog, page 38

In Afghanistan, the U.S. struggles to be generous in defeat

Too much time has been wasted as Afghanistan heads toward disaster.

The right Plan B for the moribund Iran nuclear deal

With talks aimed at reviving the 2015 agreement flagging, the United States should turn to the IAEA.

Putin barrels toward invading Ukraine, encouraged by Trump

We don’t need any conspiratorial analysis of Trump’s links with Russia to make this case. We just need look at the facts.

At the Ukrainian border, Putin stands on the edge of a precipice

President Biden has offered the Russian president an exit path from invasion. Will he have the wisdom to take it?

What CIA officers thought of the presidents they briefed

A revealing agency study contains some zingers about how our leaders behave within veil of secrecy

How the presidents look to the CIA officers who brief them

A revealing agency study contains some zingers about how our leaders behave within veil of secrecy

Why the CIA is so worried about Russia and Ukraine

Reports of the Russian buildup on Ukraine's border couldn't come at a worse time for the Biden administration's efforts to improve relations with Vladimir Putin.

An Afghan girl grew up to be her country’s U.S. ambassador. Now, she watches progress lost.

The Taliban may hope she’ll quit, but Adela Raz still goes to the embassy in Washington every day, talking about her country’s plight and trying to help its women.

Biden’s choice for Fed chair is a smart and overdue break with the left of his party

After a rocky few months, Biden seizes back some authority to do the right thing, no matter bickering on the left and right.

The U.S. is warning Russia on Ukraine. So far, the message isn’t getting through.

With Russian troops massed on the Ukraine border, the Biden administration is caught between its desire to deter a Russian invasion and its hope for progress with Russian President Vladimir Putin on other fronts.