Senator Ruben Gallego, a Marine veteran of the Iraq War and U.S. Senator from Arizona, joins Jake and Jon to discuss the war in Iran and Congress’s role in decisions of war and peace.
Drawing on his experience in one of the hardest-hit units of the Iraq War, Gallego warns that Washington risks repeating the same mistakes. His bottom line: “The best way to support the troops is don’t send us to stupid wars.”
They discuss:
- How Congress has ceded its war powers to the executive branch and why lawmakers often avoid taking responsibility for decisions on war
- The dangers of escalation, and how conflicts can take on a momentum of their own and risk what Gallego calls “chasing the dragon”
- What a potential U.S. military operation against Iran could actually look like, and why even “limited” missions may be far more dangerous than expected
- Jake and Jon also reflect on their own experience seeking congressional authorization for strikes in Syria, and break down the narrowing set of options facing President Trump, from escalation to a potential off-ramp, and the role of politics, markets, and public opinion in shaping what comes next.
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The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
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