Judging Freedom COL. Lawrence Wilkerson : Trump’s War: What Washington Doesn’t See
Mar 5, 2026
Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, retired Army colonel and former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, speaks on U.S. misunderstandings of the Iran war. He discusses why a quick aerial campaign is unrealistic and why conflicts last years not weeks. He warns about munitions shortages, rising religious nationalist rhetoric in the military, risks to alliances, and political motives behind war funding.
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Air Campaigns Won't Deliver Quick Regime Change
- U.S. leaders misunderstand the nature of the conflict with Iran and expect a short, decisive air campaign.
- COL. Lawrence Wilkerson warns aerial bombing rarely proves decisive and short campaigns won't produce regime change in a 93 million person country.
Munitions Shortages Limit U.S. Warfighting Time
- The Pentagon lacks sufficient precision-guided munitions for a prolonged fight and voiced objections internally.
- Wilkerson says stocks are depleted by Ukraine, allies, and Israel, leaving only a few weeks' worth for sustained operations.
Christian Nationalism Entering Military Briefings
- Wilkerson recounts deliberate purges of noncompliant officers and the spread of Christian nationalist messaging inside the military.
- He cites a field NCO briefing claiming Trump was 'anointed by Jesus' and urging troops to expect Armageddon.