📰 Subscribe to UnHerd today at: https://bit.ly/4eStsTF UnHerd's Freddie Sayers meets Dan Caldwell. Watch it on the UnHerd website: https://unherd.com/watch-listen/pentagon-insider-dan-caldwell-how-the-hawks-won/ Listen to the podcast: https://plnk.to/unherd?to=page UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers interviews Dan Caldwell about the recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites - Dan is the former senior adviser to U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Iraq War veteran, and a leading voice in the “restrainer” faction sceptical of U.S. military overreach in the Middle East. Caldwell’s extensive experience in the Trump administration, where he served as a key defence adviser until he was put on leave and then terminated following a investigation into Pentagon leaks after the ‘Signalgate’ scandal. His insights, recently articulated in his UnHerd article “How the War Could Spin Out of Control,” offer a critical lens on the recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and their far-reaching implications. In this in-depth conversation, Caldwell breaks down the motivations behind the U.S. strikes, questions whether they achieved their objectives, and evaluates their alignment with America’s interests. He explores the behind-the-scenes dynamics, the risk of escalation into a regional crisis or even World War III, and what Iran and the U.S. might do next—whether Iran will retaliate or seek de-escalation. Drawing on his Marine Corps service and Trump administration tenure, Caldwell provides a sobering analysis of the Middle East’s volatile trajectory and the potential for catastrophic blowback. Follow UnHerd on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unherd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unherd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unherd/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unherdtv //TIMECODES// 00:00 - 03:51 - Introduction 02:02 - 13:45 - The battle in Trump’s administration 13:45 - 20:04 - Was the Iranian intervention successful? 20:04 - 35:20 - The potential Iranian retaliation 35:20 - 39:01 - Does Iran damage Trump’s legacy? 39:01 - 39:33 - Closing thoughts #UnHerd #IranWar #Trump