2WAY Tonight with Mark Halperin Trump Slaps Down Counterterrorism Official Who Resigned Over Iran War as "Very Weak on Security"
Mar 18, 2026
John Fowler, former diplomat and newsletter analyst, offers diplomatic perspective. Fred Fleitz, ex-NSC chief of staff and CIA analyst, brings national security strategy views. Eli Lake, investigative national security columnist, provides intelligence and policy analysis. They discuss targeted assassinations in Iran, coalition shortfalls over the Strait of Hormuz, Israel’s campaign tactics, allied reluctance, and prospects for diplomatic off-ramps.
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Targeted Decapitation Aims To Weaken Regime
- Israel's targeted strikes aim to weaken Iran's repressive organs rather than immediately cause full regime change.
- Fred Fleitz argues decapitation of security leaders degrades repression, creating openings for Iranian civic unrest and defections.
Drones Cyber And Messaging Form A Coordinated Pressure Mosaic
- Israel leverages drones, cyberattacks, and messaging to strain Iran's internal security forces and payments, multiplying pressure without a ground invasion.
- Eli Lake describes strikes on Basiji checkpoints, hacking banks, and outreach to opposition groups as a coordinated mosaic.
Precision Strikes Signal A New Military Revolution
- The recent strikes reflect an evolution in warfare: precise leadership targeting from the air without occupying forces.
- Helen Zhang and Eli Lake compare this to developments seen in Ukraine, describing a revolution in military affairs using drones and autonomy.