Robert C. O'Brien

This article flagged for me by @AlexGrayForOK is a “must read today” item for anyone actually involved in US national security policy or industry. americanaffairsjournal.org/2025/11/no-sol…

Do not fail to read the post from President Trump this AM. There will be scores of books written about this war, even as there were in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam etc. This post by the President will figure prominently in the best of those books.

My father was a Special Forces operator with two tours in Vietnam and 20 years of service. To all those like my father, we all say thank you for your sacrifices. Without them we wouldn’t have the greatest country on Earth.

🇺🇸🇮🇷 If diplomacy fails, it 'will not be the fault of the US or our allies in the Gulf, it will be 100% Iran's fault' — Marco Rubio

@realDonaldTrump has given the world a class in how a “peace-through-strength” “America First” foreign policy works. First, “strength” & then if the adversary will have it, “peace.”

A feature of this type of campaign & the premise of the reported deal is “the expectation that, after the initial withdrawal of forces, military action may again be necessary in a similar manner if the wrongdoer does not change its behavior.” Again, as reported, @USNavy & @usairforce remain on station until the nuclear materials are gone.

@POTUS @realDonaldTrump will end the punitive expedition ‘Epic Fury’ on American terms on his time frame as @ArthurLHerman & I predicted last month. If the president gets the HEU & nuclear “dust” out of Iran, which is what reports of the deal suggest, ‘Epic Fury’ will have to be considered the greatest punitive expedition in history. 19fortyfive.com/2026/04/americ…

“Every time we say Jimmy Lai’s name, we send a message to Beijing and to all who imprison people for their beliefs: we remember, we are watching, and we will not stop until Jimmy Lai and all political prisoners are free.” At Freedom House’s Annual Awards and 85th Anniversary celebration, @SpeakerPelosi and @robertcobrien honored Jimmy Lai as he received the Freedom Award. #FreeJimmyLai #FreedomHouse85 @SupportJimmyLai

Many people don't understand the scale @SecWar is demanding. The United States has built less than 40,000 cruise missiles, ever, since the Army asked the Dayton-Wright Company to manufacture an Aerial Torpedo in 1917. The more time passes, the fewer we make and the more they cost. Leaders like DepSecWar Feinberg and @USWREMichael are actually responding to foreign threats and giving clear demand signal that is bringing billions of dollars of private capital into solving this problem. Now America will manufacture more cruise missiles in the next three years than the last 30 years combined, at a fraction of the cost. We are in the middle of hiring for Barracuda production at Arsenal-1 starting later this year, please hit us up if this mission is one you can be passionate about.

“I am proud that the United States, as a nation, remains united across party lines in calling for Mr. Lai’s immediate release.” — @robertcobrien “Authoritarian leaders fear those who refuse to hide the truth.” — @SpeakerPelosi Freedom House presents the 2026 Freedom Award to imprisoned Hong Kong publisher and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai for his courageous defense of press freedom and democracy. #FreedomHouse85 #FreeJimmyLai @SupportJimmyLai

共に訓練し、演習を重ねることと同じように、共に製造し、開発を進めることも極めて重要です。日米の抑止力の強さは、規模と速度を両立させて、システムを革新し製造する能力にかかっています。三菱重工の迎撃ミサイル製造施設を訪問し、小泉防衛大臣と同盟の能力について意見を交わしました。たいへん有意義な視察となりました。

This was an important piece If you want to undermine America’s future then attack our AI industry

Another reason why President Trump should move decisively so win the war: Disrupt IRGC plans to strike abroad. From “News Items” from @Ellisitems (substack.news-items.com): “5. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to extend a renewed war beyond the Middle East if the US resumes attacks against Tehran. The warning came after Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran again if it did not accept a deal to end the conflict. In a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency in Iran, the IRGC said: ‘Should aggression against Iran be repeated, the regional war that was promised will this time extend beyond the region, and our crushing blows in places you can scarcely imagine will reduce you to ashes.’ (Source: theguardian.com)”

President Obama’s failed nuclear deal was designed to make Iran the dominant regional power. Thankfully, President Trump put an end to this disastrous policy.

Two Chinese government mouthpieces sat on a U.S. Senate platform last month & argued America should slow its own AI buildout. @BTCpolicy documents the full influence operation behind that moment — CCP state media, $2B in foreign dark money, & a Shanghai-based network. This situation demands a full congressional inquiry. btcpolicy.org/articles/forei…. @StateArmor

Overnight: Iran won’t act like a normal nation. It hasn’t since 1979. It is run by “crazies,” as President Trump often says. “Lunatics” is the term both he and Secretary Rubio uses. “Insane in the head” Rubio has added. You cannot negotiate with such killers. It is like trying to be nice to a rabid dog.

I just had the craziest experience at the airport. We are about to board a flight to Atlanta when the pilot from the incoming plane walks out of the jetway. Guy is probably late 50s, salt and pepper hair, military look. The kind of pilot you instantly feel good about seeing on your flight. Pilot walks over to the counter, gets on the PA system, and starts addressing everyone. “Folks, I’ve been doing this a long time. Flying one of these jets is easy. The hard part is looking at 130 people and telling them their flight is going to be delayed.” Audible groans throughout the boarding gate. Most people here are flying to Atlanta as a layover before another flight. 130 people just had their day become a complete mess. The pilot goes on. “I get it, trust me. But here’s the deal: During our landing, we had a small mechanical issue. I’m not your pilot for the next leg, but I don’t feel confident the jet’s safe to fly until we have a mechanical team look it over, and I don’t feel comfortable asking the next pilots to fly you guys until we get confirmation.” He points at the agents next to him behind the counter: “Now, none of this is the agents’ fault. Please be kind to them. I’m the one who made this decision, not them, so any inconvenience you experience is my fault. Just please know that I don’t do this lightly, and I’m only doing it because I believe it’s in the best interests of everyone’s safety.” Now this is where the story gets crazy. The pilot puts the microphone down, grabs his suitcase, and all the people in the gate… Start clapping. I’m not joking, everyone starts clapping for the guy. 130 people who just had their travel plans ruined give an ovation to the guy who made the decision and delivered the message. All because he addressed them with decency and transparency, took ownership of the decision, made it clear that it was necessary, and explained why it was in everyone’s best interest. It’s honestly one of the best examples of strong communication—of strong leadership, for that matter—that I’ve seen in a long time. @Delta, whoever your Atlanta to Wichita pilot was this morning, he’s one of the good ones. Please tell him the delayed passengers of flight 1637 appreciate what he did.