Is the U.K. about to dissolve? Alex Massie warns that Scottish independence may be closer than anyone realizes.

How the new sanctions bill stalled. Stacy Kaper reports on how the Obama administration and its allies rallied against the Kirk-Menendez legislation.

Olympic Schadenfreude. Julia Ioffe reacts to the obsessive Western coverage of flaws with the Sochi Games:

I’d also argue that there’s something chauvinistic, even Russophobic in it. The Europeans may not be ready for their Olympics, but, okay, we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and hope for the best. The Chinese prepare for theirs ruthlessly, but we don’t understand them so whatever. We railed on Romney for daring to criticize the preparedness of our British friends, and we wrote in muted tones about Athens not being ready in time for their Olympics, but with the Russians, we gloat: Look at these stupid savages, they can’t do anything right.

A (relatively) more hawkish Germany. David Wise reports on changes in German foreign policy with attention to the new Foreign and Defense Ministers.