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Brian Finucane

@bcfinucane.bsky.social

Senior Adviser, US Program, International Crisis Group. Editor at Just Security. Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU Law. Ex State Dept Lawyer. War Powers| Use of Force| Counterterrorism| Law of War| War Crimes| Arms Sales

27,201 Followers  |  3,899 Following  |  10,264 Posts  |  Joined: 04.10.2023
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Posts by Brian Finucane (@bcfinucane.bsky.social)

Preview
Let Them Eat War

The administration’s affordability pivot:

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

01.03.2026 03:03 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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

01.03.2026 03:00 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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

01.03.2026 02:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1045    πŸ” 195    πŸ’¬ 25    πŸ“Œ 6

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

01.03.2026 02:13 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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.

01.03.2026 00:49 β€” πŸ‘ 66    πŸ” 21    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
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...

01.03.2026 00:44 β€” πŸ‘ 66    πŸ” 38    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

No, no, you don't understand.

We Bomb = We Win.

01.03.2026 00:32 β€” πŸ‘ 40    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

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

28.02.2026 23:06 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We are currently clean on OPSEC

28.02.2026 22:53 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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.

28.02.2026 22:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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

28.02.2026 22:33 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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!

"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.

28.02.2026 22:30 β€” πŸ‘ 52    πŸ” 18    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 1

imagine they have some thoughts on the subject

28.02.2026 22:16 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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 Trumpβ€”regardless of what happens in Iran.

28.02.2026 22:08 β€” πŸ‘ 76    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 3

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

28.02.2026 22:00 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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.

28.02.2026 21:55 β€” πŸ‘ 50    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Thinking of this book at the moment

28.02.2026 19:59 β€” πŸ‘ 56    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 4
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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.

28.02.2026 19:38 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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

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

28.02.2026 19:13 β€” πŸ‘ 40    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Good

28.02.2026 19:11 β€” πŸ‘ 61    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

β€œUnder 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.

28.02.2026 19:05 β€” πŸ‘ 93    πŸ” 28    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

β€œThis war is dumb and illegal.”

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

28.02.2026 19:02 β€” πŸ‘ 78    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 1
28.02.2026 18:42 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

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

28.02.2026 18:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Old enough to remember prior iterations of this game from Yemen.

28.02.2026 18:30 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Good statement

28.02.2026 17:57 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Clearly, this is all the fault of some Ivy League gender studies major somewhere.

28.02.2026 17:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

More like this, please.

28.02.2026 17:45 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
Exclusive: The CIA assessed before the strikes that even if Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the operation, he would likely be replaced by hardline figures from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Exclusive: The CIA assessed before the strikes that even if Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the operation, he would likely be replaced by hardline figures from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

And I was counting on the Iranian Thomas Jefferson as the replacement.

28.02.2026 16:54 β€” πŸ‘ 55    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2

Watching a ski movie featuring my favorite training regime for mountain sports:

Hauling jugs of water up the mountain in a backpack, pouring them out at the top, hiking down, refilling them, and repeating.

28.02.2026 16:24 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0