The J. Burden Show Operation Epic Fury w/ Darryl Cooper and Firas Modad: The J. Burden Show Ep. 440
Mar 12, 2026
Firas Modad, Middle East commentator who tracks diplomacy and regional alignments. Darryl Cooper, military analyst specializing in air campaigns and missile defense. They dissect limits of airpower, Iran’s asymmetric and maritime responses, political pressure driving escalation, Gulf states’ backlash, risks of unilateral Israeli action, and how the conflict reshapes regional alliances and great power influence.
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Domestic Politics Are Forcing Parties To Backtrack
- In Britain public backlash forced the Reform Party to soften support for the war as voters oppose being dragged into another Middle East conflict.
- Firas Modad links Reform's foreign advisor Alan Mendoza to neoconservative Israel-first positions causing political pain.
Gulf States See Bases As Liability Not Protection
- Arab media and Gulf states view the conflict as Israel trying to rope them in, harming U.S.-Gulf relations.
- Modad highlights CENTCOM imagery proving Gulf bases are being used to support strikes, fueling regional anger.
Missile Shields Are Costly And Strained
- Missile defense is far more expensive than offense and appears less effective as intercept rates drop and interceptor usage rises.
- Darryl Cooper notes videos showing Israel firing many more interceptors per incoming missile, signaling degraded performance.