Why Do US Presidents Keep Risking Foreign Quagmires?

Source: The American Conservative
by Ivan Eland

“uring the past three-quarters of a century, beginning in 1950 and continuing right through to the current war with Iran, U.S. presidents repeatedly have risked involvement in conflicts that resulted in military quagmires with disappointing endings. Why do presidents keep repeating the same mistakes in the name of ‘national security?'” (03/30/26)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/why-do-u-s-presidents-keep-risking-foreign-quagmires/

Kosovo: Regime Approves Troops to Gaza Under US-Backed Scheme

Source: US News & World Report

“Kosovo on ⁠Monday ⁠approved sending troops ⁠to Gaza for an international security force ​as part of a U.S.-backed initiative after last ‌year’s ceasefire between Israel and ‌Hamas. Several nations including Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan ⁠and Albania ⁠have committed troops to the International Stabilization Force ​to keep peace and back a transitional administration in Gaza under U.S. President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace.’ Kosovo’s government ​said in a televised ministerial meeting on Monday ⁠the defence ⁠ministry had decided ⁠to ​send a force to Gaza after receiving a U.S. ​invitation in December.” (03/30/26)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-03-30/kosovo-approves-troops-to-gaza-under-u-s-backed-scheme

Iran Teaches America How to Lose a War in Thirty Days

Source: exile in happy valley
by Nicky Reid

“Iran as we once knew it has essentially been reduced to the world’s largest open-air burn unit, and yet no one but Donald Trump seems to be foolish enough to believe that America is actually winning this war. Iran may be devastated beyond belief, but someone is still fighting like hell from the smoldering ruins and the imperial machine tasked with swiftly containing this undead menace before the American people can smell a quagmire is beginning to show signs of desperation as they lose control of the narrative. You can see it written all over Donald Trump’s leather face as he attempts to make sense of the havoc in real time, declaring victory over and over again before announcing another escalation of violence, bragging about negotiations that Iran denies having any interest in as thousands of American troops are positioned in the region for an invasion.” (03/29/26)

https://exileinhappyvalley.blogspot.com/2026/03/iran-teaches-america-how-to-lose-war-in.html

Client Tails Wag the US Dog

Source: The American Conservative
by Ted Galen Carpenter

“Since the end of World War II, the United States has built an ever-expanding global network of military allies. The term ‘ally’ may legitimately apply to Britain, France, Japan, Germany, and a few of Washington’s other security partners, but most of the so-called allies are merely small U.S. security dependents. They constitute potential burdens and dangerous geopolitical snares for the United States while providing few if any strategic benefits. An especially worrisome aspect of these relationships is that such clients spend considerable effort trying to manipulate, even pervert, U.S. policy to support their parochial objectives. That dynamic creates the danger of small clients gaining undue influence over Washington’s behavior. A security client tail thus may succeed in wagging the U.S. dog.” (03/29/26)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/client-tails-wag-the-u-s-dog/

Homan: ICE gang may continue to menace air travelers even as usual gropers get paid

Source: Time

“White House ‘border czar’ Tom Homan said Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could remain at U.S. airports to assist security operations even though Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials are set to receive their paychecks. Homan, in news appearances Sunday, said that ICE’s presence at American airports hinges on how many TSA agents report back to work. More than 500 TSA workers have quit since a partial government shutdown in February over funding for the TSA’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security. Thousands of TSA employees, who as essential workers are expected to work without pay during the shutdown, called out sick, with many taking on other jobs to make ends meet, resulting in travelers trapped in long lines at airport security checkpoints.” (03/30/26)

https://time.com/article/2026/03/30/tom-homan-ice-airports-tsa-agents-pay-wait-times-lines/