On the record · Updated October 1, 2026
Kissinger professor at Johns Hopkins SAIS
3 things Hal Brands said, verbatim, on July 20, 2026, each linked to where it ran. Grouped by the story each one belongs to.
More on the record
As printed
“if you were to judge by the status quo today, July 16th, or certainly by the now defunct MOU that was signed last month, the US lost the war”
on US failing military objectives against Iran
The Bulwark Trump Had the Firepower. Iran Had the Strategy. (w/ Hal Brands) | Shield of the Republic ›
As printed
“Iran was actually able to cause far more damage in the region than the U.S. and its friends had anticipated”
on US underestimating Iran's military retaliation capacity
The Bulwark Trump Had the Firepower. Iran Had the Strategy. (w/ Hal Brands) | Shield of the Republic ›
In their own words
“Iran was actually able to cause far more damage in the region than the U.S. and its friends had anticipated, and of course Iran was able to take and hold control of the Strait of Hormuz, thereby administering a shock to the global economy”
on Iran's military strikes exceeding U.S. expectations and harming economy
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