Thomas E. Ricks's Blog, page 40

A Nuke-Out Punch

A court ruling in Japan could freeze Tokyo's plans to restart nuclear reactors after Fukushima.

Indian Consulate in Afghanistan Attacked; China Halts Dollar Transactions at Afghan Banks; N. Waziristan Operation Continues

FP's Situation Report: Video emerges of a chlorine attack in Syria; The coup in Thailand; DOD wants drone disclosure; On Colbert, Bush's memo to Obama on the VA; Everything you need to know about Irvine's new restaurant in the Pgon; and a bit more.

Mortar Strike Hits Pro-Assad Rally in Southern Syria

Should China Declare a War on Terror?

Beijing and Washington's very different response to the latest deadly attack in Xinjiang.

Our Spying Is Better Than Your Spying

The Obama administration is drawing a line between stealing the secrets of companies and nations.

The Less Things Change…

It's been a year since Obama’s big speech about reforming the U.S. targeted killing program. Here are 10 things about the forever war that have hardly budged at all.

$110 Per Hit

Vigilantes in the Philippines have killed kids, drug dealers, and petty thieves. The government that paid their salaries insists they don't exist.

House Lawmakers Vote to Reverse Hagel’s Budget Plan

The Strange Elite Politics Behind Thailand’s Military Coup