Washington’s paranoia over weak and failing states is distracting it from the real national security threats looming on the horizon.

BBC Ukraine reports that Ukrainian television broadcasts have disappeared from viewer screens in the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk.

Benjamin Wittes and Michael O’Hanlon discuss the president’s newly proposed Authorization for the Use of Military Force against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, the legal issues involved, and the security stakes in the region.

Putin’s goal is the destruction of NATO. While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an integral part of this strategy, it is only a sideshow to the main event. If Ukraine decides to stop fighting, NATO, Europe and the United States are all on their own.

Thank you Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, and members of the committee for inviting me to present my views on the President’s proposed Authorization for the Use of Military Force against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Russia watchers are rightly focusing on the latest brittle ceasefire in Ukraine, seeking to discern President Vladimir Putin’s intentions there. But they would be wise not to overlook another unfolding struggle – one that will have profound long-term consequences for Europe and for Putin’s ability to exert pressure on the continent

I highly recommend that Lawfare readers peruse the annual the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, as well as DNI Clapper’s opening statement before the SASC yesterday.  I read both quickly (though I did not watch the hearing).  Both seem less watered-down than usual.

Victor Davis Hanson discusses ISIL.

President Barack Obama does deserve credit for increasing economic sanctions and espionage against the Iranian nuclear programs. Keeping the Russians, Chinese and Europeans supporting economic and diplomatic isolation of Iran is a major achievement, and probably had more to do with Iran agreeing to negotiate than did the election of a reformist president in Iran.