Bonus Ep! Iran War Madness

Summary

History As It Happens

Bonus Ep! Iran War Madness

Host: Martin Di Caro
Guest: Justin Logan, Director of Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute
Release Date: February 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

This bonus episode of History As It Happens dives into the US’s seemingly imminent military action against Iran—possibly without congressional or public debate. Host Martin Di Caro is joined by foreign policy scholar Justin Logan for a probing discussion of the long, troubled history of US–Iran relations, the problem of the “imperial presidency,” and the disturbing patterns of war-making in contemporary American politics.

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Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: War Without Debate

• Host (00:00): The episode opens with concern that the US could be at war with Iran again—without a congressional vote or public debate.
• Archival Context: Clips from Ronald Reagan and recent White House statements are played, illustrating decades of justifications for confrontation with Iran.

2. The Historical Context: Decades of US-Iran Tension

• Ronald Reagan (00:16, 00:49): Denies arms-for-hostages during the Iran-Contra Affair, emphasizing Iran as a state sponsor of terror.
• Justin Logan (00:58): Points out Iran’s occasional constructive engagement and the historic US-Iran nuclear agreement.

3. Diplomacy vs. Military Action

• Host (01:49): Frames the period as both the “age of Trump” and the “age of the imperial presidency,” in which war decisions are made unilaterally.
• Host (03:15): Highlights that even Reagan, Obama, and Bush sought diplomatic engagement with Iran, despite ruptured formal relations since 1979.

4. Quiz Segment: Which Statesman Said It?

• Host (01:49): Asks Justin Logan to identify the American statesman who recognized the Iranian Revolution as “a fact of history,” with no need for permanent conflict.
• Justin Logan (02:42): Guesses Bush, then Reagan.
• Reagan Clip (02:49): “The Iranian revolution is a fact of history. But between American and Iranian basic national interests, there need be no permanent conflict.” (November 1986)

5. Contemporary Crisis: Lack of Transparency and Debate

• Host (03:37): Critiques the absence of any case made to the public or Congress for renewed war, despite recent “devastating strikes” (Operation Midnight Hammer).

6. Trump Administration’s Approach

• Justin Logan (04:01):
  • Notes administration’s lack of clarity or justification: “They’ve said that they want a deal. They’ve said there’s a big or else... and they’ve shoved a bunch of materiel into the Persian Gulf.”
  • Critiques sidestepping not only Congress but also public explanation, stating, “To not make a case for what by all lights looks to be a quite substantial large scale military undertaking is striking even for a hardened cynic like me.”

7. Imperial Presidency and Congressional Irrelevance

• Host (04:54): Brings up patterns of regime change attempts and questions the failure to learn from history, highlighting the lack of both congressional and public debate.
• Justin Logan (05:30):
  • Notes Trump’s talent for exposing “just how irrelevant the Congress is in so many different contexts, this being one of them.”
  • Points out the paradox of Congress only considering war powers debate after military action, epitomizing executive overreach.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ronald Reagan (00:16): “We did not, repeat, did not trade weapons or anything else for hostages, nor will we.”
• Justin Logan (04:01): “To not make a case for what by all lights looks to be a quite substantial large scale military undertaking is striking even for a hardened cynic like me.”
• Host (01:49): “It is the age of Trump. It is also the age of the imperial presidency, an anti democratic, dangerous development that continues to sink the United States into one unnecessary war after another.”
• Ronald Reagan (02:49): “The Iranian revolution is a fact of history. But between American and Iranian basic national interests, there need be no permanent conflict.”
• Justin Logan (05:30): “This is one thing that Trump is excellent at doing... bringing into stark relief just how irrelevant the Congress is in so many different contexts, this being one of them.”

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Important Timestamps

• 00:16 – 00:58: Reagan’s archival remarks on Iran and US policy
• 01:19 – 01:49: Host recaps US-Iran history; presents quiz to Justin Logan
• 02:42 – 02:52: Reagan’s quote identified in historical context
• 04:01 – 04:54: Logan analyzes Trump’s ambiguous policy and executive secrecy
• 05:30 – 06:00: Discussion on congressional irrelevance and unchecked executive war-making

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Tone & Language

• The tone is urgent, skeptical, and critical, with a historian’s commitment to context.
• Justin Logan’s contributions are analytical, slightly sardonic, and concern executive overreach.
• Host Martin Di Caro foregrounds historical lessons and underscores the dangers of repeating past mistakes.

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Summary

In a moment where the US teeters on the edge of renewed conflict with Iran, this episode interrogates how presidential war powers and historical amnesia perpetuate “war madness.” Drawing on both contemporary events and the long sweep of US–Iran relations, Martin Di Caro and Justin Logan deliver incisive commentary on the dangers of an unchecked executive—and America's failure to learn from its entanglements in the Middle East.

Transcript

[Host]

This is a bonus episode of history as it happens. It's February 20, 2026. By the time you listen to this podcast, the US may be at war again in the Middle East. Without a vote in Congress or any public debate, War with an old enemy.

[Ronald Reagan]

The government of Iran must recognize the gravity of the situation which it has itself created. The charge has been made that the United States has shipped weapons to Iran as ransom payment for the release of American hostages in Lebanon. Those charges are utterly false. We did not, repeat, did not trade weapons or anything else for hostages, nor will we. The Iran and Libya sanctions bill I signed today will help to deny those countries the money they need to finance international terrorism. Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom.

[Justin Logan]

Iran can become a constructive actor in the region if it stops threatening its neighbors and supporting terrorism. Today, the United States, together with our allies and partners, has reached a historic understanding with Iran which, if fully implemented, will prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

[Host]

Since 1979, some Americans have been itching to reverse the Iranian revolution and topple the Islamic Republic. They apparently have the ear of President Trump, who may have campaigned as a peacemaker, but is on the brink of ordering his seventh military attack in another country in the past year. His second on Iran, according to the New York Times.

[Ronald Reagan]

And last summer, I ordered devastating strikes on Iran's key nuclear facilities and something that was called Operation Midnight Hammer. That's exactly what it was.

[Host]

It is the age of Trump. It is also the age of the imperial presidency, an anti democratic, dangerous development that continues to sink the United States into one unnecessary war after another. So how did we get here? Justin Logan is the Director of Defense and Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute. He's an expert on US grand strategy, international relations theory and American foreign policy. Among the areas he focuses on is the limited relevance of the Middle east to US national security. Justin Logan, welcome. Thanks for having me your very first time. It's great to have you here. So I'm going to greet you rather rudely with a pop quiz of only one question. Which major American statesman said the following? The Iranian revolution is a fact of history. But between American and Iranian basic national interests, there need be no permanent conflict.

[Justin Logan]

That's a good one. I'm going to say it was a Republican. Maybe Bush the elder.

[Host]

No, a little bit earlier.

[Justin Logan]

Reagan.

[Ronald Reagan]

The Iranian revolution is a fact of history.

[Host]

There he is.

[Ronald Reagan]

But between American and Iranian basic national interests, there need be no permanent conflict.

[Host]

All right. November 1986. The context is key, of course. Reagan went on television to deny that his administration was selling weapons, missiles, tow missiles through Israel to Iran. So Iran would then. Well, supposed moderates in Iran would influence the people who are kidnapping Americans in Lebanon and elsewhere and exchange the weapons for the hostages. So we don't have to get into the history of the Iran Contra scandal here. But the point is, Justin, Even though the US and Iran have had no formal diplomatic relations since 1979, Reagan Obama tried to connect to the Iranian government as well. He actually succeeded with the nuclear deal. Even after 9 11, the Bush administration quietly met with Iran. They discussed matters such as preventing the Taliban from escaping west into Iran. So diplomacy again here is really the only sane course of action. How do you assess the Trump administration's diplomacy, such as it is, as it threatens another war?

[Justin Logan]

Well, it's very difficult to figure out what they're doing because they haven't explained what they're doing. They've said that they want a deal. They've said there's a big or else hanging out there if Iran doesn't get a deal and they've shoved a bunch of materiel into the Persian Gulf. The strike package that is in place could wreak a lot of madness and mayhem inside of Iran. And it's normal for administrations to run over the Congress and even to sort of sidestep the media, but to not make a case for what is, by all lights looks to be a quite substantial large scale military undertaking is striking even for a hardened cynic like me. So Carolyn Levitt said a couple of days ago, there are many cases one could make about why you might attack Iran, but it's sort of incumbent on the sitting government to do so, which they have not done as yet.

[Host]

Carolyn Levitt, the White House spokesperson. So here we are again. A potential regime change, war. I mean, who knows? It doesn't look like a land invasion is going to happen right off the bat. But still, I mean, I thought we were supposed to have learned our lesson by now. I do want to talk about bigger picture, history, patterns, the imperial presidency, but just one more about what's happening today. No congressional debate, no public debate. I mean, there has been really no explanation at all as to why the US Is on the brink of war with Iran again after quote, unquote, obliterating the nuclear program last June.

[Justin Logan]

No, I think that's quite right. And you know, I mean, this is one thing that Trump is excellent at doing. Whether you love him or hate him or you're somewhere in between is bringing into stark relief just how irrelevant the Congress is in so many different contexts, this being one of them. I mean, we're having discussions both on the House side and on the Senate side about war powers bills that could potentially be debated after the President takes military action. So we're really in a sort of.

[Host]

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