Daniel Davis Deep Dive Merchants of Death: How US Elites Sell Unnecessary Iran War"
Feb 20, 2026
A forceful warning about a possible strike on Iran and how elites are pushing for war. Stories of covert operations and lessons from Venezuela illustrate shifting tactics. Critiques of abandoning international rules and engineering chaos as policy appear repeatedly. The human cost, political timing, and calls to mobilize Congress are raised as urgent concerns.
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Emergence Of A Pro‑War Elite
- Daniel Davis argues a cohesive foreign-policy elite now aggressively promotes unnecessary wars for geopolitical advantage.
- He calls this group the “merchants of death” who use media and power to push conflict irrespective of legal or moral constraints.
Venezuela Raid As A Precedent
- Davis recounts the January Venezuela operation as a snatch-and-grab with zero American losses and many foreign casualties.
- He says the celebratory reaction signaled a drop in regard for international law among U.S. elites.
Rules‑Based Rhetoric Replaced By Force
- Davis notes elites abandoned talk of a rules-based order and constitutional limits after that operation.
- He warns this creates political permission to use force without legal or moral restraint.