Daniel Davis Deep Dive

• Larry Johnson & Scott Horton: Risks Trump is Taking with IRAN

  The discussion centers on the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), U.S. foreign policy, and global nuclear deterrence dynamics.Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): Nuclear states promised not to spread nuclear weapons and to eventually disarm (which is not taken seriously), while non-nuclear states agreed not to develop nukes and to stay under IAEA safeguards. However, violations and selective enforcement erode trust in the system.Iran’s Position: Iran remained in the deal even after U.S. withdrawal in 2018 under Trump (influenced by Netanyahu). In response to U.S. sanctions and Israeli sabotage (e.g., assassinations of nuclear scientists, attacks on facilities), Iran increased uranium enrichment (up to 60%)—not to build a bomb, but as a bargaining chip to pressure the U.S. back into negotiations.Assassinations & IAEA: The IAEA’s access gave outside intelligence agencies (allegedly including NSA and Mossad) detailed knowledge of Iran’s nuclear personnel, possibly enabling targeted killings.Lessons for Other Countries: Historical examples (Iraq, Libya, North Korea) suggest that nations cooperating with the West on disarmament are still vulnerable, while those with nuclear weapons (like North Korea) are left alone. Thus, the strategic takeaway for states is: build nukes if you want deterrence.Potential Iranian Shift: There's speculation that Iran may revoke its religious ban (fatwa) on nuclear weapons and pursue a bomb openly, due to repeated betrayals and attacks.Trump’s Leverage: Trump’s military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities may give him a strong hand in future negotiations. Iran might consider returning to talks if offered significant concessions (economic relief, normalization), though it’s more likely they’ll continue enrichment unless the U.S. opts for full regime change—something Trump likely wants to avoid.Russia’s Role: Russia offered Iran a defense pact (similar to one offered to North Korea), but Iran declined, fearing it would permanently sever potential future ties with the West. Some factions in Iran still hope to maintain a balancing act between East and West.Key Takeaway:Iran’s restrained behavior amid aggression from the U.S. and Israel is eroding. If Western powers continue to undermine agreements and attack Iran’s infrastructure, Iran may abandon diplomacy and pursue nuclear weapons outright as its only effective deterrent.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• U.S. Striking Iran Pentagon Briefing /Def Sec Pete Hegseth & Chairman of the JCS Gen. Dan Caine

  he U.S. military conducted a massive, surprise airstrike operation on Iran, targeting its nuclear infrastructure in three key locations, including Esfahan. The strike, called the "Midnight Hammer", occurred around 2:00 AM local time in Iran and involved:75 precision-guided weapons14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) (30,000 lbs each) — used for the first time operationallyOver 125 U.S. aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers, 4th & 5th-gen fighters, refueling tankers, cyber units, and a guided missile submarineInitial assessments suggest severe destruction at all targeted nuclear sites, though a final battle damage assessment is still pending.Key points:Iran did not detect or respond to the incoming strike; its air defenses and fighters remained inactive.The mission is described as one of the largest B-2 operations in U.S. history, second only to post-9/11 missions.U.S. forces in the region were placed on high alert before the strike, with no prior warning given to Congress or regional bases about the exact timing.The operation was not intended for regime change but to neutralize nuclear threats to U.S. interests and allies, particularly Israel.The administration claims Iran was given ample diplomatic chances to halt enrichment, but stonewalled, prompting military action.Officials stressed that while this was a limited, focused mission, the U.S. is prepared to respond forcefully to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks. Concerns about escalation, alliances with North Korea or China, and fears of another open-ended Middle East war were acknowledged but downplayed, with assurances that this is not a repeat of past conflicts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• U.S. Strikes 3 of Iran's Nuclear Sites /Lt Col Daniel Davis

  The speaker is reacting in real-time to news that President Trump has ordered U.S. military airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—using B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles. Trump declared the mission a "spectacular success", claiming Iran's enrichment capabilities had been destroyed and warning of greater future attacks if Iran doesn't pursue peace.However, the speaker challenges Trump's claim, citing experts like Ted Postol, who doubt such weapons could effectively reach or destroy deeply buried Iranian sites. The true impact is uncertain, and Iran is likely the only party that knows for sure.More critically, the speaker condemns the action as an unconstitutional act of war:There was no confirmed nuclear weapons program by Iran per U.S. intelligence and the IAEA.The 1973 War Powers Act and the U.S. Constitution require Congressional authorization for such military action, which was not obtained.Justifying the strike by referencing past Iranian involvement in U.S. deaths (e.g., in Iraq 2005) is legally weak and dangerous, as it opens the door for other nations (like Russia) to use similar justifications for attacking the U.S.The broader point is that this strike represents a dangerous disregard for rule of law, accountability, and democratic process, with many Trump supporters and some officials celebrating the strike without concern for its legality or consequences. The speaker warns that this could set a precedent for unchecked executive war-making and international chaos, undermining both peace efforts and U.S. legal norms.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• DDDD Army - Thank You for 200K

  DDDD Army - Thank You for 200KSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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• Is Trump Repeating the 2003 Iraq Playbook in IRAN? /Lt Col Daniel Davis

  The video reflects on the 2003 Iraq War, calling it one of the greatest disasters in recent U.S. foreign policy. It emphasizes that the war was initiated under false pretenses — namely, the Bush administration's claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, which later turned out to be untrue. The war led to the fall of Saddam Hussein but came at enormous human and financial costs: thousands of American troops killed, tens of thousands wounded, trillions of dollars spent, and massive suffering for the Iraqi population.The discussion then draws a comparison to the current situation with Iran, suggesting troubling similarities. Despite intelligence assessments — including those by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard — indicating that Iran does not currently have a nuclear weapons program or an order from the Ayatollah to begin one, Trump has repeatedly claimed otherwise. When questioned, he dismissed these intelligence assessments, saying they’re wrong.The commentary criticizes Trump’s erratic and self-focused approach, noting his repeated shifts between threatening military action and pursuing diplomacy. It also questions the motivation behind potential U.S. involvement in a war with Iran, suggesting that just like in 2003, the true aim may be regime change rather than preventing nuclear proliferation.Ultimately, the piece warns that if U.S. leadership ignores current intelligence — as it did in 2003 — it risks repeating the same catastrophic mistakes, this time in Iran.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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