“Real men go to Tehran”

On Memorial Day, remember that behind everyone we honor is a family inflicted with unspeakable grief and pain, communities deprived of their very best, and veterans with lifelong survivor’s guilt. War’s high costs aren’t just confined to those who make the ultimate sacrifice.

Absolutely wild stuff in the Guardian where we learn the WH asked for the evidence on the Caldwell leak allegation, so the chief investigator, who is also Hegseth’s personal lawyer, claimed the evidence came from an illegal NSA wiretap of Dan’s personal phone, which… was untrue.

Saudi Al-Arabiya reports Hamas and Israel agreed on a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, as U.S. Envoy Witkoff was informed that both Hamas and Israel have agreed to the proposal. According to Al-Arabiya, Trump is expected to announce the details of the Gaza ceasefire in the coming hours.

Right or wrong, this faction doesn’t want *Trump's* foreign policy or an America First approach. They pine for the “adults in the room.” Obstructionist and downright insubordinate deputies and cabinet chiefs who’d rather contrive or quit rather than execute Presidential policy.

The funniest thing to me about this ad isn’t that it was underwritten by the Lincoln Project heiress but the dead-serious claim that ‘WE RESPECT OUR TRADING PARTNERS’ now qualifies as a progressive rallying cry.

NEW: A US defense official says this attack, which Israel says will continue over multiple days, will provoke a significant Iranian response that the Israelis will then ask the United States to help counter despite the fact that it just blew up the delicate US diplomatic talks

A source close to the White House told me that Parlatore had “cooked up” the “batshit crazy” story about the wiretap and told “ten or 12 people” at the highest levels of the DoD, who seemed to believe it. One of those people appeared to be Pete Hegseth. nymag.com/intelligencer/…

Israel's national security advisor: This war was planned as an Israeli mission. We don't need the United States. We know how to take care of Fordow on our own.

If the administration wants to join the attack against Iran, it should make its case to Congress and request an AUMF. There is no imminent threat of the kind that would justify bypassing Congress.

Strong op-ed by Reid Smith. "This is Israel’s fight, and Israel’s war to win. There is no reason to make it Washington’s war to lose." foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

Trump's decision to stay plans to go to war happen to coincide with my latest for Foreign Affairs. Coincidence? You be the judge. In which I argue against joining the war: foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

Yes, with slaves under hammer in Tripoli and a permanent state of civil war, the Libya intervention has proved a signal success of the “break it, don’t buy it” approach.

Ah well nevertheless

INT. STUDY – NIGHT Dim light. Books by Kennan and Machiavelli stacked high. I stroke my chin, crack my knuckles, and begin to type: “More Kayfabe than Kennan: Donald Trump and the Pro Wrestling Doctrine.”

Dan is one of the finest people I’ve known in Washington and a good friend. These “charges” are flagrantly scurrilous and he deserves full exoneration. In the meantime, a petition to basic decency applies.

Nothing to see here: "The United States only has about 25% of the Patriot missile interceptors it needs for all of the Pentagon’s military plans..." theguardian.com/us-news/2025/j…

Contra essentially everyone cited in the offending piece (or the rest of today’s dog-pile), @JusinTLogan actually goes on the record in defense of Elbridge Colby.

New piece in FP:

I have an op-ed in New York Times Opinion today with my friend Darin Selnick on why the DoD must fix key systems critical to maintaining quality of life for its troops and their families - mainly the Military Healthcare System and housing - in order to effectively fight and win major wars: