CFR fellow, Washington Post columnist. Pulitzer finalist for biography. Author: REAGAN: HIS LIFE AND LEGEND, NYT bestseller and NYT 10 best books of 2024. Man of many hats. Repost ≠ endorsement. maxboot.net.
In vastly inflating the threats from “leftist NGOs, smug globalists, and hostile Third World governments,” Rubio is not advancing US interests. But he is advancing his own interests by improving his standing with Trump and his followers who are suspicious of his MAGA bona fides. wapo.st/4fodN0r
Opinion | Rubio overhypes leftist threats to establish his MAGA credentialsThe secretary of state picks enemies that, unlike Russia or Iran, probably won't push back.wapo.stThe State Department report on Cuba, which reads as if it were written by Joe McCarthy, appears to be a twofer: It can be used to both support a U.S. invasion of Cuba and a new Red Scare-style crackdown on progressive activists in the United States. wapo.st/4fodN0r
Opinion | Rubio overhypes leftist threats to establish his MAGA credentialsThe secretary of state picks enemies that, unlike Russia or Iran, probably won't push back.wapo.stThe US government should battle violent extremists of all persuasions—not just leftists (the subject of Rubio's international conference). Unfortunately, Trump pardoned the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters, who committed the most serious act of political violence in modern U.S. history. wapo.st/4fodN0r
Opinion | Rubio overhypes leftist threats to establish his MAGA credentialsThe secretary of state picks enemies that, unlike Russia or Iran, probably won't push back.wapo.st
@maxboot.bsky.social joins @edwardluce.bsky.social and @djrothkopf.bsky.social to discuss America’s place in a shifting global landscape. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... youtu.be/a6LtH3wI31I
More than 30,000 Russian troops are killed or wounded every month. They are suffering casualties at nearly 8 times the rate of their Ukrainian counterparts, up from 2:1 or 3:1 earlier in the war. Drones are inflicting 96% of the casualties. wapo.st/4wcqOQt
Opinion | Zelensky erred. Ukrainians showed how a civil society works.Even inspirational leaders make boneheaded calls, as with firing an innovative defense minister.wapo.stIf only the leader of the Defense Department had a tenth of the humility, self-awareness, and professionalism of the Blue Angels. My take on Substack. bit.ly/3RECix8
Hegseth is No (Blue) AngelThe response to a beach flyover shows the best of the military and the worst of the defense secretary.bit.ly
Quick read on the relentless attacks on professionalism by the Dept of (Defense) contrasting with the internal response via @maxboot.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/maxboot/...
Hegseth is No (Blue) AngelThe response to a beach flyover shows the best of the military and the worst of the defense secretary.open.substack.comIf Trump is suddenly serious about helping Ukraine, he will dig into the depleted U.S. Patriot stockpiles and urge America’s allies to do the same. He would also grant another long-delayed Ukrainian request by providing Kyiv with Tomahawk cruise missiles. wapo.st/3TcrcQj
Opinion | Trump talks tough on Iran and Russia. For now.Trump’s rhetorical reversals are welcome, but it’s hard to know what to make of them.wapo.stMore than four months in, the Iran war once again shows why presidents should be wary of starting wars of choice based on wishful thinking and without an obvious exit strategy. bit.ly/4ylltaX
Trump’s Iran Deal Has Collapsed, Leaving the U.S. With Few Good Options | Council on Foreign RelationsAfter Iran’s attacks on merchant shipping killed the ceasefire, Trump said he would reimpose the U.S. blockade and resume airstrikes. But with no military path to regime change and the war already dee...bit.lyThe likely consequence is a low-level conflict that alternates between periods of peacemaking & warfighting without eliminating Iran’s nuke program. In other words, the president who said, “I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop wars” may have started another “forever war.” wapo.st/3TcrcQj
Opinion | Trump talks tough on Iran and Russia. For now.Trump’s rhetorical reversals are welcome, but it’s hard to know what to make of them.wapo.stTrump’s rhetorical reversals are welcome but it’s difficult to know what to make of them, because he could easily revert to his earlier positions tomorrow. He may think it’s a good thing to keep other leaders guessing, but creating extreme uncertainty undermines global stability. wapo.st/3TcrcQj
Opinion | Trump talks tough on Iran and Russia. For now.Trump’s rhetorical reversals are welcome, but it’s hard to know what to make of them.wapo.st