Senior figures inside the White House are facing mounting criticism for enabling what analysts describe as a chaotic and dangerous war strategy driven by presidential impulse rather than planning.

Political analyst David Rothkopf says the conflict with Iran marks a stark break from previous US wars — not because of battlefield dynamics, but because of the decision-making process behind it.

“This is so different from any other war we have seen,” Rothkopf said on The Daily Beast Podcast. “It is being driven by the psychosis of one individual.”

A Presidency Driven by ‘Gut Instinct’

According to Rothkopf, the core problem lies in the governing style of Donald Trump, who he says routinely ignores traditional policy advice.

“Trump doesn’t listen to advisers,” he said. “As he says, he relies on his gut.”

Critics argue that instinct-driven leadership has created an unpredictable foreign policy. Within a single hour over the weekend, Trump claimed to have wiped Iran “off the map” before threatening further strikes.

The war has already killed 13 US service members and triggered a blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz, sending shockwaves through global oil markets.

Guardrails Inside Washington ‘Broken Down’

Rothkopf’s sharpest criticism was reserved not only for the president but for the officials surrounding him.

“We don’t have people around the president who will say no,” he said, arguing that institutional safeguards meant to prevent reckless conflict have been eroded.

“All the guardrails, all the processes, all the systems… have been shut down or run around,” he warned, leaving what he described as a dangerously unrestrained commander-in-chief.

Expertise Hollowed Out Before the Crisis

Compounding the problem, key areas of government expertise had reportedly been dismantled before the conflict erupted.

Oil and gas specialists were removed from the United States Department of State months earlier. Meanwhile, newly installed Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel reportedly dismissed Iran specialists days before hostilities began.

Analysts say the loss of institutional knowledge has weakened Washington’s ability to manage the crisis.

A War Without a Clear Endgame

Even the administration’s objectives appear fluid.

Trump initially demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”, later reframing the mission around nuclear containment before hinting operations could soon wind down.

For Rothkopf, the shifting rhetoric reflects a deeper strategic vacuum.

“There has been no planning,” he said. “There is no sense of consequences — and no clear measure of success in this war.”

White House insiders criticized as enablers of Trump's 'catastrophe'

Only a fool would not be aware that it was Israel and the over powerful US jewish community who have always been pulling the stings of the puppet sitting in the Oval Office. Even much before Trump.

15 minutes ago, bannork said:

A Presidency Driven by ‘Gut Instinct’

According to Rothkopf, the core problem lies in the governing style of Donald Trump, who he says routinely ignores traditional policy advice.

“Trump doesn’t listen to advisers,” he said. “As he says, he relies on his gut.”

Then the buck stops in the Oval Office and it is 100% Trumps fault. Stop shifting the blame.

Soooo, it’s not just Trump after all—turns out the White House has been running a full-time recruitment drive for chaos enthusiasts. At this point, “White House” feels a bit misleading… maybe “Dark House” captures the mood better.

27 minutes ago, bannork said:

Senior figures inside the White House are facing mounting criticism for enabling what analysts describe as a chaotic and dangerous war strategy driven by presidential impulse rather than planning.

Political analyst David Rothkopf says the conflict with Iran marks a stark break from previous US wars — not because of battlefield dynamics, but because of the decision-making process behind it.

“This is so different from any other war we have seen,” Rothkopf said on The Daily Beast Podcast. “It is being driven by the psychosis of one individual.”

A Presidency Driven by ‘Gut Instinct’

According to Rothkopf, the core problem lies in the governing style of Donald Trump, who he says routinely ignores traditional policy advice.

“Trump doesn’t listen to advisers,” he said. “As he says, he relies on his gut.”

Critics argue that instinct-driven leadership has created an unpredictable foreign policy. Within a single hour over the weekend, Trump claimed to have wiped Iran “off the map” before threatening further strikes.

The war has already killed 13 US service members and triggered a blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz, sending shockwaves through global oil markets.

Guardrails Inside Washington ‘Broken Down’

Rothkopf’s sharpest criticism was reserved not only for the president but for the officials surrounding him.

“We don’t have people around the president who will say no,” he said, arguing that institutional safeguards meant to prevent reckless conflict have been eroded.

“All the guardrails, all the processes, all the systems… have been shut down or run around,” he warned, leaving what he described as a dangerously unrestrained commander-in-chief.

Expertise Hollowed Out Before the Crisis

Compounding the problem, key areas of government expertise had reportedly been dismantled before the conflict erupted.

Oil and gas specialists were removed from the United States Department of State months earlier. Meanwhile, newly installed Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel reportedly dismissed Iran specialists days before hostilities began.

Analysts say the loss of institutional knowledge has weakened Washington’s ability to manage the crisis.

A War Without a Clear Endgame

Even the administration’s objectives appear fluid.

Trump initially demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”, later reframing the mission around nuclear containment before hinting operations could soon wind down.

For Rothkopf, the shifting rhetoric reflects a deeper strategic vacuum.

“There has been no planning,” he said. “There is no sense of consequences — and no clear measure of success in this war.”

White House insiders criticized as enablers of Trump's 'catastrophe'

Basically nobody in the Trump Administration knows what the f*** hell they are doing.

“As he says, he relies on his gut.”
Translated: "How many more billions of dollars can I make before I die and how many people can I kill."

51 minutes ago, connda said:

Then the buck stops in the Oval Office and it is 100% Trumps fault. Stop shifting the blame.

Trump's fault 100% for idiocy in not realising closure of the Strait would be Iran's reaction to being attacked

Trump's fault too for appointing sycophants to his government, ensuing the only advice he hears is what he wants to hear.

And criticism too for those sycophants for letting themselves be nothing but dummies for Trump.

Look at Rubio, forced to wear the far too big shoes that Trump bought for him. What humiliation.

Here is the problem. It's called PERCEPTION! How Americans percieve Iranians as opposed to the reality of the Iranian people.

Example:


Here's reality when it comes to university engineering grads when comparing the US to Iran



Trump and the majority of the US population totally underestimate who the Iranian (Persian) people are. And that will prove to be fatal for American military if Trump decides to show "those dumb goat-herders a thing or two about the Most Powerful Military in the World" (who by the way got beat by the North Vietnamese, the Iraqis, and the Afghan Taliban). Iranians are on a different level from those last three adversaries.

And dear Trump - you've lost.

Perhaps it's time to modify that old WH saying

...the buck stops ......

14 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

Perhaps it's time to modify that old WH saying

...the buck stops ......

For Donald the buck never stops here.

It's always there, under the bus, as another scapegoat bites the dust.

Should have shut your mouth Pete. Trump is looking for that bus.

During an event in Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday, Trump bragged about past gains in the stock market, which have recently taken a hit because of Operation Epic Fury.

"You know, our economy was fantastic. We had a Dow at 50,000," the president explained.

"We can keep going and get that 50,000 up to 55 and 60," he remarked. "Or we can take a stop and make a little journey into the Middle East and eliminate a big problem."

"And, Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up. And you said, 'Let's do it,'' because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon," Trump added.

Trump appears to blame Hegseth for war as stock market tanks

7 hours ago, bannork said:

Senior figures inside the White House are facing mounting criticism for enabling what analysts describe as a chaotic and dangerous war strategy driven by presidential impulse rather than planning.

Political analyst David Rothkopf says the conflict with Iran marks a stark break from previous US wars — not because of battlefield dynamics, but because of the decision-making process behind it.

“This is so different from any other war we have seen,” Rothkopf said on The Daily Beast Podcast. “It is being driven by the psychosis of one individual.”

A Presidency Driven by ‘Gut Instinct’

According to Rothkopf, the core problem lies in the governing style of Donald Trump, who he says routinely ignores traditional policy advice.

“Trump doesn’t listen to advisers,” he said. “As he says, he relies on his gut.”

Critics argue that instinct-driven leadership has created an unpredictable foreign policy. Within a single hour over the weekend, Trump claimed to have wiped Iran “off the map” before threatening further strikes.

The war has already killed 13 US service members and triggered a blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz, sending shockwaves through global oil markets.

Guardrails Inside Washington ‘Broken Down’

Rothkopf’s sharpest criticism was reserved not only for the president but for the officials surrounding him.

“We don’t have people around the president who will say no,” he said, arguing that institutional safeguards meant to prevent reckless conflict have been eroded.

“All the guardrails, all the processes, all the systems… have been shut down or run around,” he warned, leaving what he described as a dangerously unrestrained commander-in-chief.

Expertise Hollowed Out Before the Crisis

Compounding the problem, key areas of government expertise had reportedly been dismantled before the conflict erupted.

Oil and gas specialists were removed from the United States Department of State months earlier. Meanwhile, newly installed Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel reportedly dismissed Iran specialists days before hostilities began.

Analysts say the loss of institutional knowledge has weakened Washington’s ability to manage the crisis.

A War Without a Clear Endgame

Even the administration’s objectives appear fluid.

Trump initially demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”, later reframing the mission around nuclear containment before hinting operations could soon wind down.

For Rothkopf, the shifting rhetoric reflects a deeper strategic vacuum.

“There has been no planning,” he said. “There is no sense of consequences — and no clear measure of success in this war.”

White House insiders criticized as enablers of Trump's 'catastrophe'

Got it. A story based on some political consultant no one has heard of talking to the Daily Beast with the same old talking points, then snuck in via MSN. How sneaky, and complete garbage.

No facts whatsoever. You lost on Day 1

30 minutes ago, bannork said:

"And, Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up. And you said, 'Let's do it,'' because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon," Trump added.

Brilliant. Only the best people.

Anyone remember the deck of playing cards that the W Bush guys had for Saddam's cabal? This admin would be worthy of that, but it would probably be a deck of 52 jokers.

6 hours ago, connda said:

Here is the problem. It's called PERCEPTION! How Americans percieve Iranians as opposed to the reality of the Iranian people.

Example:


Here's reality when it comes to university engineering grads when comparing the US to Iran



Trump and the majority of the US population totally underestimate who the Iranian (Persian) people are. And that will prove to be fatal for American military if Trump decides to show "those dumb goat-herders a thing or two about the Most Powerful Military in the World" (who by the way got beat by the North Vietnamese, the Iraqis, and the Afghan Taliban). Iranians are on a different level from those last three adversaries.

And dear Trump - you've lost.

And who supports Trump?

On 3/23/2026 at 7:45 PM, connda said:

Then the buck stops in the Oval Office and it is 100% Trumps fault. Stop shifting the blame.

It's more nuanced than that, connda. Yes, the man at the top shoulders the blame but incompetent sycophants pushed him to do so. And because he's a megalomaniac, wars feed his ego. I wonder who's holding him back from pushing the button? Maybe only his cash flow.

18 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I wonder who's holding him back from pushing the button

Hint: it rhymes with the (derogatory) Spanish word for bargirl.

In 2001-2002-2003 it was Rumselfd, Wolfowitz and Cheney who drove the White House foreign policy train. Who is this era's Rumselfd and trio?

4 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

In 2001-2002-2003 it was Rumselfd, Wolfowitz and Cheney who drove the White House foreign policy train. Who is this era's Rumselfd and trio?

I think the US repeated the lesson of Kissinger by allowing monsters like those three out into the light. Americans were flim-flammed by Kissinger's academic cred; they did not understand the full extent of evil. Dubya made the same mistake.

Now the monsters hide in the shadows whispering advice to those in power. The power behind the golden crapper? Undoubtedly, the Heritage Foundation.

51 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I think the US repeated the lesson of Kissinger by allowing monsters like those three out into the light. Americans were flim-flammed by Kissinger's academic cred; they did not understand the full extent of evil. Dubya made the same mistake.

Now the monsters hide in the shadows whispering advice to those in power. The power behind the golden crapper? Undoubtedly, the Heritage Foundation.

When I was deployed to A-stan I heard Colonels saying repeatedly "Rummie wants this and Rummie wants that and now". Of course they were refering to Sec Def Donald Rumsfeld and one even said "this deployment could make or break my career". It seemed like they were afraid of "Rummie". Apparently Sec Def Rummie had unrealistic expcetations about the unrealistice goals he had set forth. Rummie was the guy who said "we will be hailed as liberators by the Iraqi people" and "we do not need 300,000 to secure Iraq". The 300K was the number of personnel then Army Chiefl of Staff Erick Shinseki said was needed to secure Iraq after the invasion. Gen Shinsekf was then dismissed by Rummie. We all know what happened in Iraq between the years 2004 and 2007.