Phillips OBrien

Hi All, my latest book, War and Power: Who Wins Wars and Why, is being released in North America in two weeks. The Publisher, Basic Books/Hatchette, has just released a discount code for 20% if you buy through them. Code is WAR&POWER (not case sensitive). www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/phill...

One of the most remarkable things of the last 9 months is how many Americans seem to believe the President is all powerful and Congress has no say. Actually Congress has been ineffective by choice. It has immense power if it had the courage to use it.

If Trump really wanted to sanction Putin, he could. It would be no problem. Congress would go for any sanction he wanted. So any time Trump puts a condition on sanctions, it’s just another piece of evidence that he is protecting Putin from sanctions and helping Russia in the war.

The main lesson from last night for Poland (indeed all NATO in CEE) should be that their defense starts in Ukraine. Imagine the results if Russians could launch a massive UAV attack on Poland from just over the border in Ukraine?

The White House position is that it is no big deal that Putin is helping Iran try to kill US soldiers. Always remember rule #1. Putin can do no wrong in Trump’s eyes. Wonder why that is?

So Trump rolls out the red carpet for Putin, protects Putin, bullies the Ukrainians for Putin, and in return Putin helps Iranians kill Americans. Trump must act now or the case for him being a Russian asset of some type will be undeniable.

I do fear that grotesque boast that the USA no longer needed to worry about "stupid rules of engagement", will haunt the country for years to come. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/w...

Just sent out a free piece to expand on my article in @theatlantic.com yesterday. The signs of rot in US military and diplomatic capabilities are real and even more extensive than I could say in that article. Here are more-and a gift link to the original article. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Zelensky highlighting the moral and strategic poverty of the USA under Trump. In the last year Trump has ended all military aid for Ukraine, has undermined Ukrainian air defense, has tried to bully Ukraine in handing over territory, and has rolled out the red carpet for Putin.

Latest in @theatlantic.com . In only a few days, there are small but worrying signs that the corruption and incompetence of the Trump administration is affecting US military and diplomatic power. A fish rots from the head down. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

I mean, how else can he make sure to get some really big payoffs. thehill.com/homenews/adm...

HI All, Just sent out this piece on Iranian air power strategy. It attempts to say what their strategy might be, based on what they are targeting and what systems they are using. As a strategy it is interesting, but is more likely to fail than succeed. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

For the last few days the President of the USA and the White House communications team have been active agents of Russian influence, spreading the Putin narrative and trying to undermine democracy.

Ah, that well known constitutional amendment that says the USA can go to war for a feeling...