Hi there, everyone. It's 4 o'clock in the east. For the purposes of the next couple minutes,

let's just say we are a traditional ally of the U.S., country we've always seen as the single most powerful

nation our planet has ever known, which is in the process of making a supremely consequential decision

about what it should do or should not do when it comes to Iran. Normally, our American partners

might act in conjunction with our allies, people like us, in planning for and acting on

a course of action that could upend the world order.

But of course, things are very, very different now.

So how do we, as a ally of the U.S., go about pursuing our national security interests on this

particular matter?

Should we maybe, I don't know, call someone in Congress, a bicameral legislative body that is all but

seated its constitutional authority, including its authority to declare war? Or should we maybe,

I don't know, call someone in the intelligence community, the same agencies that Trump said a few

minutes ago, he, quote, disagrees with when it comes to whether or not Iran is

close to having a nuclear weapon. Should we reach out to the new director of national intelligence,

a woman named Tulsi Gabbard, regardless of whether or not she was a qualified pick,

the same person that Trump just said is, quote, wrong on Iran? Likewise, should we reach out to the new

defense secretary, a guy named Pete Hegsseth, even though the White House has spent this week

refuting reports that he and Gabbard have been generally excluded from small group meetings

on this topic. Or should we approach Trump directly? It's dicey, but I don't know, He's the guy who unilaterally does things, like igniting a trade war, a trade war that has already

upended the world's economy, the man who, in word and deed, has lit a torch to age-old

alliances, who just this week said of striking Iran this, quote, I may do it, I may not do it.

And quote, I like to make the final decision one second before it is due.

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