FDD Morning Brief Washington's two-front war | feat. Lewis Libby
Mar 18, 2026
Lewis Libby, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney and national-security veteran. He breaks down tactical surprises and U.S.-Israel coordination. He describes secret diplomacy that brought Gulf states in. He revisits lessons from the 1990 Gulf War and contrasts post-2001 decision-making. He analyzes Iran’s proxy campaign and recent provocations.
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Unusually Close U.S.-Israel Military Partnership
- The U.S. and Israel achieved a tactical surprise and are coordinating like peer combat allies, multiplying battlefield effectiveness.
- Lewis Libby highlights rare parity with an ally that inflicts and absorbs comparable combat damage, improving operational outcomes.
Secret Diplomacy Brought Gulf States Onside
- Pre-war secret diplomacy aligned Gulf states and limited wider escalation, easing operational freedom.
- Libby credits behind-the-scenes work by U.S. officials for Gulf state support that restrained regional backlash.
Tactical Victory Without Strategic Endstate Fails
- Gulf War I shows tactical success can mask strategic gaps when endstates are unclear, leaving hostile regimes intact.
- Libby recounts stopping the campaign early and Saddam remaining in power as a key misstep.