This Is REALLY BAD NEWS
Vice President JD Vance reportedly contacted U.S. military commanders in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia during the spring and summer to solicit their direct assessments of the Iran war. These conversations reportedly covered objectives, tactics, casualty estimates, and the potential impact on deterring other rivals, with commanders indicating that U.S. stockpiles are low and capacity to deter adversaries is diminished. The New York Times reported on Vance's inquiries, framing them as diligent efforts to understand the conflict, while The Young Turks hosts criticized Vance for not publicly opposing the war and suggested he may be seeking to distance himself from a potentially damaging conflict.
The reporting raises questions about Vance's public stance on the Iran war versus his private inquiries, potentially impacting his political standing and the narrative around his foreign policy involvement.
The episode also mentions Donald Trump's conflicting statements on damage to U.S. aircraft in the Middle East and potential Republican electoral challenges in the upcoming midterms.