Thomas E. Ricks's Blog, page 34

The Biggest Losers

Meet the two hapless candidates running in Syria’s stage-managed farce of an election to confirm president-for-life Bashar al-Assad.

The Three-State Solution

The peace process has failed again, and it's time for Israel's neighbors to shoulder the burden of dealing with the Palestinians.

I'm Scared to Discuss Tiananmen, and the Internet Is Partly to Blame

For Chinese, living abroad isn't enough to escape online spooks.

Obama's EPA Takes Aim at Dirty Power Plants

The new rules would clean up the energy sector by 2030, but have sparked bipartisan outrage already.

Assad's Hollow Mandate

Syria's presidential election might be a farce -- but that doesn't mean it isn't dangerous.

Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, June 2, 2014

The Great Game on Central Asia's High Plain

As a muscled-up Russia pushes for more leverage over
Kazakhstan, a wary Astana strives to make new, powerful friends.

Republicans Slam Obama for Bowing to Terror in Bergdahl Release

Taliban Releases POW Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in Trade for Five Detainees

Sikorski Is No Savior

Warsaw's liberal
diplomat is not the man to take on Russia. And Poland isn't going to save
Europe.