From Unconditional Surrender to…Whatever This Is (David French & Rep. Subramanyam) | Bulwark Podcast
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Trump's initiation of the Iran war without Congressional approval was unconstitutional and strategically unsound.
- ❖The President's threat of 'civilizational destruction' against Iran was categorized as a potential 'crime against humanity' by David French.
- ❖The US military, despite tactical brilliance, was likened to 'lions led by donkeys' due to incompetent political leadership in the Iran conflict.
- ❖The Iran 'ceasefire' was a functional surrender by the US, leaving Iran strategically stronger and able to control the Strait of Hormuz.
- ❖Israel's alignment with Trump in the Iran conflict was a strategic miscalculation, alienating key US allies and leaving them vulnerable to Trump's unpredictable decisions.
- ❖JD Vance's campaigning for Victor Orban in Hungary is seen as an endorsement of illiberalism and a dangerous model for the MAGA movement.
- ❖The Department of Justice is accused of being weaponized under Trump, with politicized investigations and a lack of transparency, particularly regarding the Epstein files and Cassidy Hutchinson.
Insights
1Trump's Iran War: Unconstitutional, Naive, and Strategically Flawed
David French argues that Trump launched the war against Iran without Congressional approval, based on a naive belief in quick regime change. Despite tactical military successes, the war resulted in significant damage to US facilities and casualties, while Iran demonstrated its ability to impose global economic consequences by closing the Strait of Hormuz, ultimately emerging strategically stronger.
French details how 'everyone in the room was telling him Netanyahu is feeding you false hope' () and that Trump 'just yolos it anyway' (). He notes the military's 'tactically brilliant' performance () but states Iran was 'making a lot of during this war? Money' () and 'demonstrated that can cause a superpower to back off' ().
2Threat of 'Civilizational Destruction' as a Crime Against Humanity
French condemns Trump's threat to destroy Iranian cultural sites and infrastructure as beyond a war crime, classifying it as a potential 'crime against humanity' akin to Russia's actions in Ukraine. Such an order would have created an unprecedented constitutional crisis, forcing the military to choose between defying an illegal order from the Commander-in-Chief or breaking its moral backbone.
French states Trump was 'threatening would be categorized as a crime against humanity' (), comparing it to Russia's 'relentless campaign against Ukraine's infrastructure' (). He explains the dilemma: military compliance breaks its 'moral backbone' (), while defiance creates a 'massive constitutional crisis' ().
3Military as 'Lions Led by Donkeys' Under Trump's Leadership
The hosts apply the 'lions led by donkeys' analogy to the US military under Trump, describing highly skilled and courageous service members being deployed haphazardly and unconstitutionally by political leaders lacking strategic imagination. This leadership wastes valor, damages facilities, and causes casualties without achieving clear objectives, ultimately grieving the military's professional ethos.
French uses the analogy 'lions led by donkeys' () to describe 'fighting men of incredible courage, incredible tactical skill, led by political leaders who totally lacked strategic imagination' (). He laments Trump's deployment of this force 'so haphazardly on his own impulse in an unconstitutional manner' ().
4Israel's Strategic Miscalculation in Partnering with Trump
The episode criticizes Israel's decision to heavily align with Trump in the Iran conflict, arguing that it was a strategic miscalculation. While Israel had strong short-term security interests, Trump's unpredictable nature and self-interest led him to abruptly pull out, leaving Israel feeling abandoned and alienating the Democratic Party, a crucial long-term ally.
Miller notes 'Israel was a big proponent for this and was actively pitching Trump to do it' (). French highlights Trump's self-interest: 'Donald Trump's most important priority is Donald Trump. It is not Israel' (). Miller adds that the partnership 'burns and outrages' the Democratic Party ().
5DOJ Weaponization and Erosion of Justice
The Department of Justice is accused of being weaponized under Trump, evidenced by politicized investigations, attempts to block the release of documents (like the Epstein files), and targeting individuals like Cassidy Hutchinson for testifying against Trump. This creates a system where truth is disregarded, and the DOJ acts as a personal weapon for the president, undermining the rule of law.
Miller discusses the DOJ 'using the Civil Rights Division to look into Cassidy Hutcherson' () for testifying. French states, 'the way in which the DOJ has been weaponized from day one' (), noting 'truth doesn't matter. Spin matters. Bluster matters. Memes matter. Liberal tears matter' ().
Lessons
- Voters in Virginia should be aware of the April 21st redistricting referendum and understand its implications for political power and the fight against gerrymandering.
- Democrats in Congress should continue to push for a War Powers Resolution vote to assert legislative authority over military action and hold the executive accountable for unilateral wars.
- Citizens should critically evaluate political leaders' motivations in foreign policy, especially when personal financial interests or political gain appear to influence decisions that impact national security and international relations.
- Support efforts to protect the integrity of the Department of Justice and other government institutions from politicization and weaponization, recognizing the long-term damage to democratic norms.
Quotes
"What he was threatening would be categorized as a crime against humanity."
"This was the analogy, lions led by donkeys. In other words, you would have fighting men of incredible courage, incredible tactical skill, led by political leaders who totally lacked strategic imagination, who totally could not get their nations out of the bloody mess they'd put them in."
"He's the commander-in-chief. He's not the memer and troller chief."
"Donald Trump's most important priority is Donald Trump. It is not Israel. It is not anybody else."
"Truth doesn't matter. Spin matters. Bluster matters. Memes matter. Liberal tears matter. Truth doesn't matter."
Q&A
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