Let's call the new regime what it is: The Trump/Biden Administration

US Bombs Militia Targets in Eastern Syria, 17 Reported Killed

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the dead were members of Iraq's PMF

Dave DeCamp Posted on February 25, 2021Categories NewsTags Iraq, Syria

So, what is the point?  How do we blame Putin?  Or is Putin no longer the bogeyman?

Can it end in anything but disaster?

Senator Murphy gets a C+ for his Foreign Affairs article

 Chris Murphy is regarded as a progressive and that is so.  There once was breed of the species known as Peace Democrats.  They are in the main extinct as the Democrat Party is effectively a war party.

Surprisingly, however, The Senator's article of February 19, 2021, America’s Middle East Policy Is Outdated and Dangerous; A New Approach to the Gulf States Needs a Better Foundation is not a bad effort for a guy who has been a bit hawkish in other places.

He is calling for restraint and getting along with Iran and letting Yemen live.  Whether or not it is so we can bug others is a question:

NO COLD WAR REDUX

In pursuing this new course, some sky-will-fall adherents to the status quo will argue that if the Biden administration drives too hard a bargain, Gulf leaders will turn away from the United States and toward China or Russia. This argument is a red herring, one that plays on a misunderstanding of both the irreplaceability of military alignment with the United States and the willingness of China and Russia to get their hands dirty in Middle Eastern politics. This isn’t the Cold War: Russia has little to offer in the region, and as global oil usage continues to fall, Moscow will inevitably compete with Gulf countries for buyers. Although China will continue to look for economic opportunities in the region, it will be unwilling to play a real security role anytime in the near future. The Chinese navy isn’t going to come to the aid of a Gulf country under attack. If the Bahrainis, Emiratis, or Saudis threaten to turn to other powers, Washington can afford to call their bluff.

Ultimately, restraint is nice, but there is a question to ask, Why do we have to be there at all?  Does any of this actually make life better for your average American citizen?

The Neutralist has been asking this question for decades now and no one on team war has come up with an answer.

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2021-02-19/americas-middle-east-policy-outdated-and-dangerous

Stephen Kinzer in the Globe, Re Afghanistan, Trump was right-Will Biden be?

 Stephen Kinzer nails it in his February 18, 2021 Boston Globe column.  He shouldn't have to, we should've been long gone from Afghanistan, but we aren't and if some foreign policy goofs have their way, we may never.

Worth a read anyway:

Trump was right: Get out of Afghanistan

Biden should honor what looks like the best deal we’re ever going to get in that country.

Saudi Arabia gets a pass and Doug Bandow asks why

 Saudi Arabia is a tyranny of vast proportions and yet it has love in certain American circles.  If you asked your garden variety progressive if we should have ever had diplomatic relations with the German National Socialist regime, they would probably say no.

If you ask should we have them with Saudi Arabia, you would probably draw a blank.  Over time, it can be argued the KSA regime is worse, but none of the cool kids are going to over-worry about it, just as Julian Assange is not a thing for them.

Doug Bandow is not asleep, however.  He looks at the love that is being given to the kingdom:

Saudi Arabia Sets Global Standard for Tyranny, but Asks: Why Is Washington Picking on the Kingdom?

Revolving Door Project (RDP) examines conflicts of interest at the Center for a New American Security - No one should be shocked as it is doing think tanky things

The Revolving Door Project looks at the Center for a New American Security and pinpoints the sinecuristas that go in and out of the Washington revolving door.

New Report Finds "Serious Conflicts Of Interest" At Top National Security Think Tank Sought Out By Biden Administration

Good Work RDP, but it should probably be filed under Plus ça change.

Hey, for all we know, CNAS might be a bunch of peaceniks, but it does smell a little war mongerish.

The board of directors seems the usual suspects.

Imperialism - Nord Stream delenda est

Article from Yahoo News:

Germany 'offered $1bn if US dropped sanctions against controversial pipeline'

Buying gas from the Russkies makes sense rather than shipping it from the US, but beating the Russians is more important in Washington.

Now that Trump is gone, Biden can do some different...or not.

 Now that the world's worst president has been replaced by the world's worst president, the pursuit of a whistleblower continues.

Biden to Continue Seeking Extradition of Julian Assange

Plus ça Whatever...