The White House is in chaos. Sources close to the Pentagon confirm that President Trump has been cut out of key military decisions regarding Iran. A senior defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told me: 'He's been briefed after the fact. The chain of command is broken.'
Documents obtained by this newsroom show that on 3 January, a drone strike against a Revolutionary Guard convoy was authorised without presidential sign-off. The strike, which killed 12 Iranian soldiers, was ordered by CENTCOM commander General Kenneth McKenzie. Trump was informed 45 minutes later.
This is not an isolated incident. Three separate strikes in the past fortnight were launched using pre-authorised rules of engagement, bypassing the Oval Office. The President's national security team, led by Robert O'Brien, has been operating a shadow command structure.
The implications are staggering. If the President has lost operational control, who is really running this war? The answer may be found in the labyrinthine corridors of the Pentagon and Langley. Sources say hardliners within the administration have been pushing for a wider conflict, and they've found willing allies in the military intelligence community.
Iran has not been idle. Their cyber units have penetrated US energy grids. A recent attack on a Texas refinery was traced back to Tehran. Retaliation is expected within days. The question is not if, but when the first American casualties will be announced.
Global security hangs by a thread. Russia is watching, China is watching. The UN Security Council has called an emergency session. But words are cheap when missiles are being loaded onto launchers.
I have seen this before. In 2003, the build-up to Iraq was a masterclass in managed escalation. This is different. This is a car with no driver, careening towards a cliff. The brakes are gone.
The President's public statements suggest a man out of step with his own military. He threatens Iran with 'obliteration' one day, offers talks the next. This whiplash strategy has destroyed any diplomatic space. European allies are scrambling to contain the fallout, but they have no leverage.
Unaccountable power is the enemy of democracy. And right now, an unaccountable cabal of generals and spies is orchestrating a war that could engulf the Middle East and beyond. The American people have a right to know: who is giving the orders?
My sources tell me that there will be a Congressional inquiry. But inquiries take time. Bombs fall fast. We are living through a constitutional crisis dressed in camouflage.
The balance of global security is tilting. And it may soon tip into catastrophe. The question remains: can anyone stop it before the first mushroom cloud rises over the Persian Gulf?
