Thomas E. Ricks's Blog, page 32

Poverty Shoots Up in Venezuela

Obama's 'Don't Do Stupid Shit' Foreign Policy

From hope and change, to resets and pivots, to singles and
doubles, to not sticking your finger in the electric socket. How far we've fallen.

Ashraf Ghani’s Afghanistan

Embracing Enemies in Tunisia

Tunisia's main political forces have agreed on a deal to shore up the political middle and undermine extremists. That could be a crucial milestone on the path to democracy. The first in our series of Lab Reports on Tunisia.

The Bergdahl Bargain Was Just the Beginning

Obama swapped five Taliban for Bowe Bergdahl. What will he trade for the three other Americans being held in Afghanistan?

A vet’s advice for those leaving the service

The ‘Proceedings’ parade of clichés

Does America Contradict Itself? Very Well, Then.

The prisoner-swap deal that saved Bowe Bergdahl might have been a bad one, but it was also moral and necessary.

Companies Disclose Use of Gold From North Korea

New rule forces businesses to trace their supply chains.

Why Negotiating With Our Enemies Is Not a Sin

The Taliban swap for Sgt. Bergdahl is just the latest
in a long line of occasions when America willingly dealt with bad
guys. And like it or not, this is how wars end.