The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Wars of Choice

10 snips
May 8, 2026
They debate comparisons between Iran and Ukraine and whether calling conflicts 'wars of choice' is fair. The conversation examines US goals in confronting Iran and the politics behind criticism. They probe historical lessons on intervention and concern over erasing Jewish and Israeli particularity in culture and media. A contested Pulitzer-winning photograph and omissions on a book jacket also come up.
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INSIGHT

Ukraine Comparison Obscures Moral Differences

  • Comparing Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the U.S. campaign against Iran flattens morally distinct aims and actors.
  • John Podhoretz argues Putin sought land and domination, while the U.S. sought to degrade a regime threatening genocide and nuclear proliferation.
INSIGHT

Analogy Used To Discredit Foreign Policy Rivals

  • Political critics analogize Trump to Putin to discredit a foreign-policy approach they dislike rather than to offer substantive critique.
  • Abe Greenwald and John Podhoretz contend the tactic protects establishment strategists from confronting their own policy failures.
INSIGHT

Military Action Produced Tangible Nuclear Setbacks

  • Success in degrading Iran's nuclear program challenges critics who claimed such action was impossible.
  • Abe Greenwald notes Trump's campaign set back Iran's program and demonstrated U.S. military capability despite disagreements over strategy.
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