Brian Finucane

Threats of lawless violence followed by "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

This really struck me as well as I'd tracked this case to some extent.

There are Iran hawks who like to play up AQ-Iran ties and I wonder if this line came from them.

along my bike route

Some obvious points I made in a few interviews yesterday:

The decapitation strike against Khamenei doesn't equal regime change.

Regime change doesn't equal a smooth transition to some more democratic, human rights respecting government.

The C.I.A. Helped Pinpoint a Gathering of Iranian Leaders. Then Israel Struck.

A defining feature of Trump 2.0's foreign relations is the need for the administration to quickly claim credit for classified and even notionally covert actions that result in "wins."

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/u...

a group of men standing in front of a podium with the words ladies and gentleman we got him ALT: a group of men standing in front of a podium with the words ladies and gentleman we got him

And everyone lived happily ever after.

Let Them Eat War

The administration’s affordability pivot:

open.spotify.com/track/0734v4...

With Trump, I expect MBS was the more persuasive one.

Yesterday’s attack on Iran sends a strong message to would-be dictators who use secret police to murder protesters.

Just did a TV hit on you know what and was pleasantly surprised to follow one of my brilliant former State Department colleagues.

They've sidelined anyone who could articulate such a coherent argument, partly because expertise is deep state and woke and partly because they just don't care.

Strike on Iranian primary school kills 108, authorities say Girls’ education facility hit as US and Israel launch joint military operation

Waiting for further reporting and additional facts.

But the gutting of CIVCAS mitigation efforts at DoD alongside the cowing of military lawyers is grim context for this news.

www.ft.com/content/055d...

No, no, you don't understand.

We Bomb = We Win.

One-upsmanship is a defining trait of his approach to foreign policy

We are currently clean on OPSEC

Yes, the WPR was one of a number of laws that had a concurrent resolution mechanism subsequently cast into constitutional doubt by SCOTUS.

But that was a different provision of the law than the articulation of POTUS's constitutional authority to use force.

Reporting suggests a joint operation, but I don't think the facts would get in the way of POTUS claiming credit.

The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!

"The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!"

Bombing for Peace.

Truly a Peacemaker.

imagine they have some thoughts on the subject

Khamenei appears to be another trophy on Trump's wall, next to Soleimani, Baghdadi, and Maduro.

Killing him and claiming that "win" alone may prove to be sufficient for Trump—regardless of what happens in Iran.

Reminiscent of his initial defense of the Venezuela incursion before the administration took the position of "international law, lol."

a group of men standing in front of a podium with the words ladies and gentleman we got him ALT: a group of men standing in front of a podium with the words ladies and gentleman we got him

And everyone lived happily ever after.

Thinking of this book at the moment

a man with long hair and a beard is smiling and saying thank you . ALT: a man with long hair and a beard is smiling and saying thank you .

You’re very kind.

Yeah, to Schumer’s credit he has backed Kaine’s war powers resolution.

The substantive blame on this issue lies elsewhere in the Senate.

Good

“Under the Constitution of the United States, the President must receive authorization from Congress to enter a war. But even if he had, that does not change the fact this action is unwise, unjustified, and not supported by the American people.”

Yes. Even if authorized, this would be bloody folly.

“This war is dumb and illegal.”

About sums it up. More current members of Congress should take note.

Shared a similar sentiment in some interviews after the Venezuela incursion.