The Times of Israel Daily Briefing BONUS - Bret Stephens: America and Israel are engaged in a common fight for civilization
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Mar 15, 2026 
Bret Stephens, New York Times columnist and Sapir editor, offers sharp commentary on foreign policy and U.S.-Israel relations. He discusses whether the US is truly partnered with Israel in a common war, argues for acting early using a cancer analogy, and warns about an emerging authoritarian axis and 1930s-like global risks.
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War With Iran Is A Joint Strategic Effort
- Bret Stephens argues the US-Israel campaign against Iran is both strategically justified and already effective, damaging Iran's long-term warfare capacity with minimal allied aircraft losses.
- He rejects claims Israel dragged the US into war, noting coalition strength and shared intelligence made the campaign possible and proportionally less resource-intensive for the US.
Claims Israel Hoodwinked The US Mirror Old Libels
- Stephens rejects the trope that Israel tricked the US into war and calls that narrative an echo of anti-Semitic libels.
- He emphasizes Republican public memory of Iranian attacks since 1979 and frames this as an effort to end a decades-long Iranian campaign.
Act Now Or Face An Impregnable Iran
- Stephens uses a medical analogy: acting on Iran now (stage II) prevents a far worse future if left unchecked (stage IV).
- He warns Iran building tens of thousands of missiles would make it effectively impregnable and degrade US deterrence.