Bulwark Takes Trump Says He’ll Choose Iran’s Next Leader (w/ Marc Polymeropoulos)
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Mar 6, 2026 Marc Polymeropoulos, former CIA officer and co-host of Eyes on Geopolitics, brings 26 years of Middle East and counterterrorism experience. He tackles Trump’s bold claim about picking Iran’s leader. He breaks down confusion in U.S. post-strike planning. He explores risks of covert Kurdish support amounting to regime change. He flags brain drain in intelligence agencies and shifting priorities in counterterrorism.
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Presidential Rhetoric Versus Covert Action Reality
- Trump publicly claiming he'll 'choose' Iran's next leader reveals a disconnect between presidential rhetoric and established covert-action processes.
- Marc Polymeropoulos notes CIA coups require interagency findings and vetted candidate lists, so a president personally picking leaders is "preposterous."
Israeli Goals May Favor A Weakened Chaotic Iran
- Israeli and U.S. strategic goals diverge after initial kinetic strikes; Israel prefers a weakened Iran even if it leads to internal chaos.
- Polymeropoulos warns Israel's covert ties with Kurdistan and ethnic minorities could intentionally produce instability the U.S. would view as catastrophic.
Kurdish Warning About Repeated U.S. Betrayal
- Polymeropoulos recounts telling a senior PUK Kurdish official in 2002 that Kurds expected betrayal after U.S. promises of support.
- The official bluntly replied "we've done this before with you" and warned Americans would ultimately "screw us."