Heading to Nashville to Record Book Audio Next Week
Hardcore. I'll be in Nashville next week to record the audio for my book out in August. Good to know @jockowillink will be in town (likely up WAY before me) leading from the front.
China Emerges as Biggest Loser in Grand Strategy
That's a bad/first echelon take. There is a much larger picture. China is the big loser in their grand strategy plans: https://t.co/usYe48iDIM
Cascading Wars: From Kabul's Fall to Global Instability
Kabul 2021 to invasion of Ukraine 2022 to October 7, 2023. Connecting the dots on geopolitical decisions/ leader perceptions/ conflicts/ interconnectedness. A master class as always from LTG (ret) McMaster @LTGHRMcMaster https://t.co/j4By3sDoOD Because looking at history, the biggest conflicts often...
Gulf States Urge U.S. to Weaken Iran Before Peace
"Gulf States Want the U.S. to Cripple Iran's Regime Before Ending the War." @WSJ https://t.co/twMeku5of8 “Any long-term political settlement must address the full spectrum of threats, including Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities, and their network of regional proxies,” added Sultan...
Understanding War Strategy: Ends, Ways, Means Explained
"What is Strategy in War?" There are a TON of people that need to read this right now. Words have meaning. Strategy. Political goals. Levels of War. Tactics. Ends, Ways, Means. With @LiamSCollins in @smallwars https://t.co/o27njmt7mI
NATO's Inaction in Hormuz Empowers Putin, Tests Unity
Defending international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is a coalition responsibility. That is not an offensive campaign. It is a defensive mission to protect freedom of navigation, global commerce, and the stability of a maritime chokepoint that carries roughly...
China’s Global Strategy: Coercion, Propaganda, and Iran Support
With China’s unmatched censorship at home, it’s worth asking how narratives like this move so freely abroad. China is a remarkable, ancient civilization. But it is governed by a Communist Party that advances its interests through economic coercion, information operations,...
Decapitating Enemy Leadership Remains
No, not even close. No one has ever had the capability to kill an entire hierarchy of political and military leaders of the enemy (and any replacements identified during the war). It challenges theories of how the will of the...
Israel Kills Iran's Senior Intelligence Chief Khatib
Israel eliminated another very senior Iranian figure, Iran's intelligence minister, Esmaeil Khatib, last night. Khatib led terrorist activities against American targets (to include assassination attempts of American political leaders and sleeper cells) around the world. “Khatib had been appointed Minister of Intelligence...
China's Stakes in Iran Are Higher than Expected
"China Has Much to Lose in Iran," I had a great talk with the @WSJ @WSJopinion Kate Odell on Iran, China, and more. https://t.co/Ms3i2Z5N7M
China Realizes Hard Power Needed Beyond Economics
"China Is Learning the Lessons of Hard Power" @ForeignPolicy Great analysis. I agree. https://t.co/lY4cNmw8Do China Is Learning the Lessons of Hard Power Economic strength alone is insufficient If the United States can dismantle that pillar in a region closely tied to China’s energy...
Israel's Strikes Aim to Enable Iranian Regime Overthrow
Decapitation of Basij leadership, headquarters/infrastructure strikes, checkpoint hunting. IMO Israel is doing the work to set the conditions for the population to take back their government when the time comes.
Targeting Iran's Elite May Open Negotiation Path
Great analysis, I agree with @stavridisj “This is a big deal, if killing Khamenei was a 10, this is a 8 1/2…this is a big deal taking these two out…drilling down below the 4 star, 3 star, 2 star [Iran political...
Iran’s Nuclear Program Now Fully Crippled, Says Insider
I don’t do polymarket, but that is not going to happen during this U.S. administration or Israeli government watch. Iran’s entire nuclear program has been attacked (from top scientists, centrifuges, centrifuge manufacturing, weaponization, research centers, and every component of the...
Weapon List Reveals Civilian‑targeting Actors, Urges Sanctions
A great list of weapons and their components used to attack civilians and civilian areas in Ukraine. It would make a great addition to sanctions lists for Russia, Iran, and North Korea. There is a list of those who target...
Seizing Kharg Island Would Checkmate Iran’s Oil Revenue
Taking Kharg Island (variety of ways) "kind of checkmate" - General (ret) Jack Keane, Chairman @TheStudyofWar , on @FoxNews "The Straits of Hormuz eventually will be a problem that will be solved, but not immediately. Kharg Island; Kharg Island,...
China's Military Gear Proves Inferior in Recent Wars
Like I wrote about last week, China's military equipment has been shown to be inferior in multiple recent and ongoing conflicts. https://t.co/zXE50ZTq1t
Iran's War Weakens Its Power, Boosts Regional Security
I fully agree. Iran will emerge from this war weaker. The United States, our forces in the region, Israel, and our partners will ultimately be more secure. Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities, its long-held assumption that it could build forces...
China Risks Belt‑Road Investments as US‑Israel Iran Conflict Escalates
"China Has a Lot to Lose in the U.S.-Israel War on Iran," my latest in @WSJ @WSJopinion The U.S.-Israel war against Iran isn’t only reshaping security and the balance of power in the Middle East. Its stakes are also high...
Global Race Accelerates Development of Directed Energy Weapons
Yes, and AeroVironment is not the only manufacture of directed energy weapons. Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems manufacturers the drone and missile proven Iron Beam. India’s DRDO working aggressively on directed energy weapons (such as the 30kW laser-DEW Mk-II(A) and...
War Appears Simple, Yet Its Complexity Defies Oversimplification
“Everything in war is very simple, but the simplest thing is difficult.” - Carl von Clausewitz Be mindful of “analysts” or media that oversimplify strategy, war,’warfare while not recognizing the uncertainty, fog and friction, complexity of geopolitics, and all the information...
China Bears Brunt of US‑Israel‑Iran Conflict
"China is the biggest loser in all of this [U.S./Israel-Iran War]...the reason we are having this conversation. Iran's nuclear progress like centrifuge manufacturing - China...ballistic missiles production - China." my talk tonight with @PoloSandovalCNN @CNN https://t.co/jN0HZ51bVz
Self‑styled Military Expert Clueless About Strategic Planning
Imagine a self proclaimed “military expert” telling his followers that in all of the U.S. National Security Council, Joint Staff, CENTCOM, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), and JTF staff, they did not plan for scenarios in the Strait of...
War Zones Serve as Global Arms Showroom
“The battlefield is the ultimate arms exhibition. Countries that spend billions of dollars on military equipment…Every destroyed radar, every neutralized air defense battery, and every successful penetration of an air defense network sends a signal to the global defense market”
Gulf States Seek Ukraine's Defense Expertise Amid Iranian Threat
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” – Napoleon Iran threatening Ukraine only reinforces why many Gulf states are seeking Ukraine’s expertise after years of defending against Iranian drones and Russian missiles now being used against sovereign countries...
Assessing Operation Epic Fury's Success in Securing Hormuz Traffic
I joined @benshapiro this morning to discuss how Operation Epic Fury is going, are we achieving our objectives, will we be able to ensure traffic in the Straights of Hormuz?
U.S. Moves to End 47‑Year Iran Conflict
The objectives are in fact clear and restated almost daily. Personally, I appreciate the U.S. taking steps to stop a 47 year war against the U.S., our troops, our interests so my son and my daughters do not have to...
US Military Dominance Exposed as China Falters Globally
I agree with this analysis, "US military supremacy shines as China fails big in Iran, Venezuela [Pakistan]" @thehill https://t.co/jG7J0FVegY "China has become the laughingstock of the international community...In less than a year, their system has failed catastrophically in Pakistan, in Venezuela...
Ukraine’s $1,000 Drones Inspire Global Defense Innovation
"These are Ukraine’s $1,000 interceptor drones the Pentagon [and now many countries] wants to buy." https://t.co/UK44ifiKp8 Through surviving daily Russian attacks / war crimes from missiles and drones with whatever means they could acquire comes an innovation that will save many...
U.S. Crude Exports Serve as West’s Strategic Reserve
America’s Strategic Oil Exports @WSJ Great and important read. I still believe the WSJ Editorial Board does some of the most balanced and informed analysis in the media. https://t.co/sxJ6f76VCl The International Energy Agency said Tuesday that its 32 member countries will...
Iranian Rocket Near Jerusalem's Sacred Sites Sparks Prayer
Iranian rocket lands "a few hundred meters from the Old City, the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre." I have warned about this in the past. The reckless and desperate behavior of the Islamic regime in...
US‑Israel Operation
Fully agree with General Petraeus. The U.S. and Israel have had enormous success. The operation continues. The straights of Hormuz a significant variable at the moment.
Delaying Action Costs More: Strategy and Uncertainty Discussed
"Can America and Israel finish the job? A conversation with John Spencer." I had a great talk w/ my dear friend @havivrettiggur on his "Ask Haviv Anything" podcast. We talk about strategy, uncertainty, and the price of waiting too long...
Israel, U.S. Seek Conditions, Not War, for Iran Regime Change
Both Israel and U.S. are clear on this. "Iran regime change not military goal, creating conditions for it is" https://t.co/LsttUiENZi
Hezbollah Launches 100 Rockets; Lebanon Fails to Curb Group
Hezbollah fired roughly 100 rockets into Israel. The group remains undeterred and continues to follow the orders of the Iranian regime. Lebanon has failed to disarm Hezbollah or assert sovereignty over its own territory.
Goal: Destroy Navy, Halt Missiles, Deny Iran Nuclear Weapons
"Our objectives...the same as day I gave my first briefing here on Operation Epic Fury...missile and their ability to make them, two destroy their navy, and three permeant deny Iran nuclear weapons, forever." @SecWar https://t.co/4T9ht30KJZ
New Proof of India's Deep Damage in Pakistan
More evidence of the damage India caused deep in Pakistan during the 2025 Operation Sindoor.
US and Israel Cripple Iran's Missile, Nuclear Assets
.@CENTCOM says U.S. forces have struck over 5,000 targets and sunk or damaged over 50 ships in the last 10 days. Add Israel's over 3,000 targets to that and you get a lot of capability and resources lost for the...
Iran's Military Crumbling as US‑Israel Gains Ground
I agree. "Iran Isn't Winning This War," @WSJ editorial board. https://t.co/twzXYJsVjZ The reality inside Iran and the region is that the U.S. and Israel continue to make progress. The regime loses more of its military each day, along with the ability...
Trump Threatens to Endorse Killing Iran's New Leader
“President Trump…would back the killing of new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei if he proves unwilling to cede to U.S. demands” @WSJ https://t.co/0jKyXatr7r
Iran's Attack on Turkey Risks NATO Escalation, Turkey Holds Back
Major mistake by Iran to attack Turkey (NATO) and Azerbaijan. https://t.co/vImYh9g8cV Turkey did not immediately comment on any formal steps within NATO. It had previously said it had no intention of invoking the bloc's Article 4 that would call allies to consult...
Iran's Plan to Outpace US‑Israel War Control Failing
“In other words, Iran hoped to widen the war faster than the United States and Israel could control it. So far, that strategy appears to be failing.”
Iran's Regime Now Reacts, No Longer Drives War
“The Islamic regime in Iran is no longer shaping this war. It is reacting to it.”
Trump’s “Unconditional Surrender” Targets Iran’s Weapons, Not Regime
"And yes, President Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender” is consistent with the political objectives stated from the beginning of the war. It does not necessarily mean the surrender of the Iranian state. It means the unconditional end of the behaviors...
AI Accelerates US Iran Operations, Boosting Analyst Efficiency
“US military relying on AI as tool to speed Iran operations,” @business One of the many reasons the AI race is critical for the U.S. to lead. https://t.co/oOKSi9AgHM In the Iran campaign, AI technology has played a critical role by supporting the...
US‑Israel Blitz Reveals Next‑Gen Allied Combat Tactics
"The future of war? US-Israel blitz on Iran unveils next-gen allied combat." @FoxNews I had a great conversation with @EfratLachter about the U.S.-Israel cooperation and performance in the war. https://t.co/vwCdVtwpLx
Lebanese Justice Minister to Pursue Hezbollah Leader Prosecutor
Big if it happens: The Lebanese Minister of Justice will request the prosecution of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah.
US‑Israel Air Dominance Enables Massive JDAM Strikes
Like @SecWar said, now that the U.S. and Israel have air superiority if not supremacy, a much greater larger amount of attacks using large diameter JDAMs can occur.
Reject Politicized Criticism; Focus on Official War Goals
Crappy analysis. I agree strategy and strategic goals should be debated in the public and by our elected officials. But I personally can't stand politicized, biased, and inaccurate criticism viewed by some as analysis about the U.S. war goals in...
Israel Strikes Deep Tehran IRGC Command Tunnel
More than 50 Israeli aircraft dropped bunker busting and penetrating precision bombs (a lot of them) on a deep buried military tunnel complex in Tehran used by the IRGC Supreme Command (whoever that is right now). No BDA yet. @jconricus