Posted on 07/26/2026 11:00:12 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Sen. Lindsey Graham planned to travel to Florida in early March to persuade President Trump to join Israel in the bombing of Hezbollah in Lebanon—until a friend talked him out of it.
The friend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told him on a call before the trip that bringing the U.S. into the operation, in the midst of the Iran war, was going too far, too fast, according to unreleased footage from a documentary about the South Carolina Republican lawmaker that was being filmed before he died earlier this month.
“We’re concentrating right now on Iran,” Netanyahu said on the March 4 call, according to the footage, which was viewed by The Wall Street Journal. “If we tell Hezbollah that we’re going all the way, we threaten them, but if we actually do it, then they have no reason not to go all the way against us. And right now that’s not our interest,” he said on speakerphone.
“That’s actually good counsel,” Graham replied from his Senate office, which was covered with Trump hats, scattered papers and Planters Peanuts, with a bottle of bourbon on the shelf.
The extraordinary exchange was captured by the documentary filmmaker Alex Holder, who had been granted extensive access to Graham since 2023. It provides an unvarnished look at Graham’s yearslong quest to topple the Iranian regime and the ways in which he persuaded Trump to strike, at times pushing for even more aggressive action than Netanyahu was prepared to take.
“Look what we’ve done here. I almost cried,” he tells the crew, laughing loudly just after U.S. strikes on Iran began in February. “How long have we been pushing this?”
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
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Hezbollah, Houthis, Iran. All the same thing, yes?
Still, it will be a good thing when the President finally closes out the books on Carter’s folly.
yes, Jimmy started it all. and i was thinking the other day: wasn’t it Bill Clinton who persuaded Ukraine to divest of nukes, coming under our “umbrella,” opening the door to Russia’s re-take of Crimea, Ukraine,etc. talk about YEARS of disastrous failed Dem foreign policy!
Iran was more like Carter's unconditional surrender.
Hezbollah (Lebanon) and the Houti’s (Yemen) are backed by Iran.
However, there is more:
—Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Article chosen intentionally from 2019 so you don’t think it’s revisionist: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49175639
—In Iraq, Iran backs some of the Shia militia’s. Their presence with the Quds forces was so large and brazen that they had general grade officers in Iraq. That’s what this was about in Trumps first term: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Qasem_Soleimani
They want to rid the Middle East of our presence, that has been a stated goal sine 1979.
They want a nuke. That is for them a life insurance policy. Expect them to become even more aggressive after they achieve that.
They want to establish themselves as the regional hegemon.
We have been in an active but low intensity, ground war with them ever since we went into Iraq 2003.
I am no fan of Lindsey Graham (RIP). But in this case, he had it right.
Iran is basically even one of the linchpins for peace in Israel/Lebanon conflict. It’s hard to achieve a lasting and meaningful peace when you have someone with the capabilities and weight of Iran essentially stirring the pot. They want this conflict, they see it as draining and wearing down Israel. They help Hezbollah with weapons, money ($100 - $700 million USD annually), training, intel and logistics.
Linda was way ahead of her skis. Her reason to push war had nothing to do with national security and everything to do with making sure the jet manufacturer in her state had plenty of work.
She got paid handsomely for it.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
“Yes, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the age of 71.” It’s been said only the good die young.
Where does The Constitution allow Senators to run Foreign Policy?
Reagan could have ended Hezbollah easily in its crib, right after the Marine barracks bombing. He ever gave the order for an airstrike. The traitor Caspar Weinberger ignored the order, and Reagan let it go. Big mistake.
“Where does The Constitution allow Senators to run Foreign Policy?”
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
What is obscene about fighting terrorists dedicated to destroying “The Great Satan”? When did FREE REPUBLIC turn into “Surrender Monkeys Unlimited”?
And before I hear about how I don’t know anything about war, I’ve been shot at flying combats missions in the Middle East many times. And done a tour there on the ground.
President Trump himself is looking for an off-ramp.
Thank you for your service Mr Rogers. I’m glad you made it home. God bless you.
Can Trump get “Letters of Marque and Reprisal”?
“Can Trump get “Letters of Marque and Reprisal”?”
This seems the only possible limitation:
“he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States, or any of them”
The late Linda Graham was a warmonger.
I’ll have a carpet bombing of B-52s, a pair of B-2s with bunker busters, a glass of orange juice, a jelly donut, and a cup of coffee with cream and plenty of sugar.
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