David Ignatius's Blog, page 73

The military-industrial-congressional complex is holding our national security back

But cutting investment in new technology to preserve spending on increasingly outmoded weapons makes no sense.

A cautious diplomat who couldn’t stop U.S. mistakes

William Burns offers a wise account of why things don’t work out the way statesmen plan.

We may be headed toward a political realignment

Trump wrecked the GOP. Democrats are in upheaval.

Erdogan sabotages Turkey’s progress by turning away from the West

Turkey has come to think it can call the shots, regardless of U.S. interests.

The completion of the Mueller report almost guarantees division

Parts of the special counsel’s findings will probably disappoint each side in the debate.

It made sense for Trump to walk away in Hanoi

If dialogue with North Korea resumes, it will be on a firmer, more realistic basis.

Michael Cohen’s testimony reminds us that Trump’s investigations are far from over

This is a political war, and it’s probably heading into a more combative and divisive phase.

Patrick Shanahan could be what the Pentagon needs — if he doesn’t become Trump’s yes man

What strengths and weaknesses would he bring to the government’s second-toughest job?

Trump’s Syria reversal is a significant win for good sense

The president will keep “hundreds” of U.S. troops in northeast Syria, senior defense officials told me Friday.

These ‘pragmatic progressives’ may be the future of the Democratic Party

The voices of the new House members who have served overseas may matter more than attention-grabbing progressives.