What's America's role in Israel's war with Iran? Just asking questions.



U.S. forces aren't directly involved in the war with Iran…yet. But those of us who remember the 2003 Iraq invasion can't help but be struck by some of the unsettling similarities: A terrorist attack acting as an inciting event a year and a half earlier, sensational but unverified claims of weapons of mass destruction imminently falling into the wrong hands, the promise of a swift and decisive victory over a cruel and corrupt regime.

There are hugely important differences between then and now, but today's guest will offer the long view. He's someone who understands first-hand how military intelligence is used and abused to justify war. 

Paul Pillar was a CIA analyst for 28 years, serving as the executive assistant to the CIA director from 1989 to 1991 amid the Gulf War and later rising to become the chief analyst and deputy director of the agency's Counterterrorist Center. Today he's a nonresident senior fellow at Georgetown's Center for Security Studies and a nonresident senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. 

We discuss what the Trump administration knew and when about the Israeli strike on Iran, why Pillar urged President Donald Trump to "condemn" the strike, whether or not regime change is the primary goal of this war, what Trump's likely next steps are, and how the dissent of Trump supporters like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon is likely to affect the outcome.

Mentioned in the podcast:

"Trump says he doesn't want Israel to attack Iran, but strike 'could very well happen,'" by Lazar Berman

Statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Trump on Truth Social: The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!

"How Trump Shifted on Iran Under Pressure From Israel," by Jonathan Swan, Maggie Haberman, Mark Mazzetti, and Ronen Bergman

U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel: Overview and Developments since October 7, 2023

"Trump must condemn Israeli acts of illegal, naked aggression," by Paul Pillar

Trump on Truth Social: UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!

Trump on Truth Social: We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured "stuff." Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA. 

June 10 statement for the record by General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander for U.S. Central Command, concerning Iran's nuclear program

Mike Huckabee's text to Trump

Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant

"Initial US intelligence suggests Iran was surprised by the Hamas attack on Israel," by Zachary Cohen, Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand and Jeremy Herb

• Producer: John Osterhoudt

The post Paul Pillar: America Should Not Fight Israel's War appeared first on Reason.com.