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Welcome to the commentary magazine Daily Podcast. Today is Friday, February 26, 2021.

I'm John Pudhord, the editor of commentary magazine and the purveyor of merch, shirts,

tote bags, all for you at merch.commentarymagazine.com. I have to say the merch is flying off the shelves,

those crushing morocity t-shirts and sweatshirts that keep the camel burning t-shirt, the commentary

logo t-shirt and the commentary tote bag. We may have to start ordering more limited time

offer here because we are running out so make your purchase today at merch.commentarymagazine.com.

And if we continue to do as well as we're doing we may add some new products for those of you.

I don't think anybody's really received theirs yet probably but when you get it, if you like it,

we may have more for you. Buy some for you, buy some for your friends, buy some for your kids,

it's fun. merch.commentarymagazine.com. And with me as always associate editor,

no Rothman, high knowa, hi John, executive editor, a greenwald, hi Abe,

hi John, and senior writer, Christine Rosen, hi Christine.

hi John. So the first military action of the Biden administration took place last night in response to

the Iranian backed militias in Iraq striking at American contractor targets and we have

retaliated with a strike against Iranian assets in Syria, noa. What do you make of the choice of

target? Well initially I didn't, when it came across the wire, I thought they were striking

back against positions in Iraq, which would be covered by at least two AUMFs. That's the

authorization for the use of military force as voted by Congress. Correct. There is no legal

authority to execute strikes in Syria. That doesn't seem to be a problem. The last three consecutive

administrations have done it. It is legally disconcerting and Congress, which is, you know,

rending garments, the members of Congress are rending garments on the left over this,

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