Be very afraid: Joe Biden plans to set the world right. Expect a return to the past. Not so much to Barack Obama, but to Bill Clinton. Biden says America is back, which likely means as sanctimonious nanny wielding a metaphorical AK-47 to enforce its wishes. The ride will be dramatically different, and potentially much worse, than the experience over the last four years.Of course, we can’t know what the incoming president will do. Unfortunately, based on his writing, as well as that of his nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and selection for national security advisor, Jake...…Be very afraid: Joe Biden plans to set the world right. Expect a return to the past. Not so much to Barack Obama, but to Bill Clinton. Biden says America is back, which likely means as sanctimonious nanny wielding a metaphorical AK-47 to enforce its wishes. The ride will be dramatically different, and potentially much worse, than the experience over the last four years.Of course, we can’t know what the incoming president will do. Unfortunately, based on his writing, as well as that of his nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and selection for national security advisor, Jake...WW…

once seemed to serve a purpose, albeit an awful one. Osama bin Laden was evil but rational: The most effective way to attack a military superpower for its interventionist policies is to strike civilians.However, the latest assaults in France, shooting a priest and knifing three people in a church, are as close to pointless as one can imagine. The acts do not even pretend to defend Islam, and they convince no one of the faith. At least there was a hint of purpose — entirely evil, of course — in the beheading of a teacher last month, as an …ByWhen the Little Sisters of the Poor and allied...…once seemed to serve a purpose, albeit an awful one. Osama bin Laden was evil but rational: The most effective way to attack a military superpower for its interventionist policies is to strike civilians.However, the latest assaults in France, shooting a priest and knifing three people in a church, are as close to pointless as one can imagine. The acts do not even pretend to defend Islam, and they convince no one of the faith. At least there was a hint of purpose — entirely evil, of course — in the beheading of a teacher last month, as an …ByWhen the Little Sisters of the Poor and allied...WW…

MenuBiden: A Cheapskate Who Prefers to Tax Others Than Give His Own MoneyIt’s clearly much easier for him to give away others’ money than his own.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe PressIf Joe Biden wins the presidency and Democrats take control of the Senate, taxes will rise. Likely a lot. His official plan envisions a $4 trillion hike over the coming decade. But a big victory would empower the Left, which would demand bigger and broader hikes. After all, there will be lots of benefits to increase, programs to create, and, most important, interest groups to pay off.The only “cut”...…MenuBiden: A Cheapskate Who Prefers to Tax Others Than Give His Own MoneyIt’s clearly much easier for him to give away others’ money than his own.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe PressIf Joe Biden wins the presidency and Democrats take control of the Senate, taxes will rise. Likely a lot. His official plan envisions a $4 trillion hike over the coming decade. But a big victory would empower the Left, which would demand bigger and broader hikes. After all, there will be lots of benefits to increase, programs to create, and, most important, interest groups to pay off.The only “cut”...WW…

MenuThe Chinese Cultural Revolution: Lessons for America’s Cancel CultureSoon enough the cancelers will find them selves open to cancellation.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Pressn September 13, 1971, Lin Biao, China’s defense minister, died in an airplane crash. What made his last flight memorable was that he was fleeing to the Soviet Union after he was discovered plotting a coup against party General Secretary Mao Zedong. Lin’s plane ran out of fuel. Or so goes the official story advanced by the Chinese Communist Party.This was an early and extreme version of the “cancel...…MenuThe Chinese Cultural Revolution: Lessons for America’s Cancel CultureSoon enough the cancelers will find them selves open to cancellation.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Pressn September 13, 1971, Lin Biao, China’s defense minister, died in an airplane crash. What made his last flight memorable was that he was fleeing to the Soviet Union after he was discovered plotting a coup against party General Secretary Mao Zedong. Lin’s plane ran out of fuel. Or so goes the official story advanced by the Chinese Communist Party.This was an early and extreme version of the “cancel...WW…

MenuTrump Is Right To Be AntiwarWar is “the health of the state,” as Randolph Bourne said.Editor's PicksSign Up to receiveHot OffThe Pressresident Donald Trump recently to Joe Biden’s support for “these crazy endless wars.” The president also blamed the top military brass, in contrast to those in the ranks, for wanting to “fight wars.”The latter claim isn’t strictly accurate. Even the generals tend to be cautious about getting into conflicts. But once in they never seem to want to leave: Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria are all stupid places where American forces are fighting today, yet the...…MenuTrump Is Right To Be AntiwarWar is “the health of the state,” as Randolph Bourne said.Editor's PicksSign Up to receiveHot OffThe Pressresident Donald Trump recently to Joe Biden’s support for “these crazy endless wars.” The president also blamed the top military brass, in contrast to those in the ranks, for wanting to “fight wars.”The latter claim isn’t strictly accurate. Even the generals tend to be cautious about getting into conflicts. But once in they never seem to want to leave: Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria are all stupid places where American forces are fighting today, yet the...WW…

MenuThe Tragic Legacy of World War II Lives OnSeventy-five years ago the carnage finally stopped.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Pressorld War II, the most brutal, destructive, and murderous conflict in human history, was finally, mercifully racing toward a close 75 Augusts ago. In early May, German units and personnel had rushed to surrender, preferably to the Western allies. On May 7, General Alfred Jodl signed his country’s formal surrender.Alas, the war in the Pacific continued. At that time U.S. forces were in the midst of the battle for Okinawa. That fight did not conclude...…MenuThe Tragic Legacy of World War II Lives OnSeventy-five years ago the carnage finally stopped.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Pressorld War II, the most brutal, destructive, and murderous conflict in human history, was finally, mercifully racing toward a close 75 Augusts ago. In early May, German units and personnel had rushed to surrender, preferably to the Western allies. On May 7, General Alfred Jodl signed his country’s formal surrender.Alas, the war in the Pacific continued. At that time U.S. forces were in the midst of the battle for Okinawa. That fight did not conclude...WW…

MenuThe Problem With Allies: It’s Time to Unfriend a Few CountriesFalse friendships and free-riding are more trouble, and money, than they’re worth.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Pressmerica’s many alliances, both formal and informal, are supposed to serve a purpose: enhance U.S. security. They are a means, not an end. Their effect might be to protect other nations, but their ultimate objective should be to make America safer.Yet Washington officials have come to treat military partners like Facebook friends, to be accumulated endlessly to win popular bragging rights. In which...…MenuThe Problem With Allies: It’s Time to Unfriend a Few CountriesFalse friendships and free-riding are more trouble, and money, than they’re worth.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Pressmerica’s many alliances, both formal and informal, are supposed to serve a purpose: enhance U.S. security. They are a means, not an end. Their effect might be to protect other nations, but their ultimate objective should be to make America safer.Yet Washington officials have come to treat military partners like Facebook friends, to be accumulated endlessly to win popular bragging rights. In which...WW…

MenuThe Statue Wars: Was Secession Treason?No less so than the North was imperialistic in fighting to preserve the Union.Editor's PicksSign Up to receiveHot OffThe PressWhen mobs are attacking statues of Ulysses S. Grant, it is difficult to have an intelligent discussion about why some Confederate generals and officials deserve respect. No one today defends the role of slavery. However, if belief in racial equality is the sole measure of the worth of Americans at the time, few people, including in the North, would pass muster.Racism was rampant, and many northerners objected to slavery not...…MenuThe Statue Wars: Was Secession Treason?No less so than the North was imperialistic in fighting to preserve the Union.Editor's PicksSign Up to receiveHot OffThe PressWhen mobs are attacking statues of Ulysses S. Grant, it is difficult to have an intelligent discussion about why some Confederate generals and officials deserve respect. No one today defends the role of slavery. However, if belief in racial equality is the sole measure of the worth of Americans at the time, few people, including in the North, would pass muster.Racism was rampant, and many northerners objected to slavery not...WW…

MenuThe U.S. Wants India as a Real Ally, Not Another Helpless DependentAny alliance can’t be modeled on anything like NATO.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Presshina’s Xi Jinping must be working for President Donald Trump. Although New Delhi has moved closer to the U.S. in recent years, no Indian government would subordinate its policies to Washington. If the Modi government fails to act, however, it will be inviting blackmail and coercion by Beijing.Indeed, the latest bloodshed in the Himalayas, in which the People’s Republic of China is widely seen as the aggressor, pushed...…MenuThe U.S. Wants India as a Real Ally, Not Another Helpless DependentAny alliance can’t be modeled on anything like NATO.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Presshina’s Xi Jinping must be working for President Donald Trump. Although New Delhi has moved closer to the U.S. in recent years, no Indian government would subordinate its policies to Washington. If the Modi government fails to act, however, it will be inviting blackmail and coercion by Beijing.Indeed, the latest bloodshed in the Himalayas, in which the People’s Republic of China is widely seen as the aggressor, pushed...WW…

MenuBack to the Future: U.S. Negotiates With War Advocates and Criminals of OldBut at least the Trump administration is not treating Serbia in the ugly way its predecessors (and NATO) went out of their way to do.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Presshe last couple of weeks brought momentous news from the Balkans. The Serb politician who began his career as chief propagandist to Yugoslavia’s authoritarian leader throughout the Balkan wars enjoyed a big election victory. The Kosovo politician who served as one of the top insurgent commanders who helped win that nation’s independence...…MenuBack to the Future: U.S. Negotiates With War Advocates and Criminals of OldBut at least the Trump administration is not treating Serbia in the ugly way its predecessors (and NATO) went out of their way to do.Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe Presshe last couple of weeks brought momentous news from the Balkans. The Serb politician who began his career as chief propagandist to Yugoslavia’s authoritarian leader throughout the Balkan wars enjoyed a big election victory. The Kosovo politician who served as one of the top insurgent commanders who helped win that nation’s independence...WW…