By: The Blog Topics Brief | February 28, 2026
The sirens are still wailing in Tehran and Tel Aviv, but the biggest explosion today might be the one happening inside the Pentagon.
Just hours after President Trump announced the launch of "Operation Epic Fury"—a massive joint U.S.-Israeli strike campaign aimed at toppling the Iranian regime—the military’s leadership is reportedly in a state of open revolt. While the White House is busy posting "Mission Accomplished" style videos on Truth Social, the people actually tasked with fighting this war are sounding the alarm.
"Blatantly Unconstitutional"
In a scathing public statement that has sent shockwaves through Washington, retired Major General Paul Eaton—a former top commander in Iraq and senior advisor to VoteVets—didn't hold back.
"Men who know more about war than Donald Trump ever will warned him repeatedly about the risks to American lives," Eaton stated. "Starting a war with no goal, no focus, and no Congressional authorization isn't leadership—it’s incompetence on a global scale."
A War Without a Map?
The critique hitting hardest isn't just about the legality; it’s about the strategic vacuum. Despite the administration's claims that this will be an "easily won" victory, reports are leaking that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine, has been privately warning the President for weeks that we are walking into a meat grinder.
The military's core complaints?
No Exit Strategy: There is no clear plan for what happens after the bombs stop falling. Are we occupying? Are we nation-building?
Incompetence at the Top: Commanders are reportedly frustrated by a "fitful cycle of lashing out" rather than a coherent strategy.
Munitions Drain: Warnings have been ignored that a prolonged fight with Iran will leave the U.S. completely exposed in the Pacific if China decides to move on Taiwan.
The Political Fallout
On Capitol Hill, the reaction has been a mirror of the military's frustration. Senators Tim Kaine and Rand Paul are already moving to force a vote on a War Powers Resolution by Monday, calling the move an "extreme abuse of power." Even some of Trump's usual allies are reportedly quiet, waiting to see if the "easy win" turns into another twenty-year entanglement.
Trump, for his part, remains defiant. From Mar-a-Lago, he told reporters that General Caine is "a great fighter" who knows "only one thing: how to WIN." But as the first reports of U.S. casualties at bases in Bahrain and Qatar start to trickle in, the distance between the President’s rhetoric and the military's reality is becoming a canyon.
The bottom line: We are 12 hours into a new war, and we already have a constitutional crisis and a military leadership that feels ignored. This isn't just about Iran anymore—it’s about who actually controls the sword of the United States.
CONSTITUTIONAL SHOWDOWN: Senate Moves to Block Trump’s Iran Strikes
By: The Blog Topics Brief | February 28, 2026
The smoke hasn’t even cleared from the first wave of Tomahawk missiles, but a second front has already opened—this time on the floor of the United States Senate.
As of this morning, a rare bipartisan coalition is moving at "breakneck speed" to invoke the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Their goal? To legally force President Trump to halt "Operation Epic Fury" and withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran within 30 days unless Congress officially declares war.
The "Kaine-Paul" Alliance
In a scene that highlights just how fractured D.C. has become, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) stood side-by-side on the Capitol steps today. Their message was simple: The Constitution doesn't give the President a blank check for regime change.
"The President is acting as if Article II of the Constitution makes him a king," Senator Kaine told reporters. "It does not. Only Congress has the power to declare war. We are reclaiming that authority today."
Senator Paul added a warning to his own party: "If we allow any President—regardless of party—to start a global conflict on a whim, we have abandoned the Republic. This is about the law, not the man."
The White House Defense: "Article II"
The White House Counsel’s office issued a defiant memo late last night, arguing that the President has "inherent constitutional authority" as Commander-in-Chief to protect U.S. interests and allies (specifically citing Israel) from "imminent" Iranian threats.
Legal experts are calling this the "Preemptive Self-Defense" doctrine, a controversial interpretation that essentially bypasses the need for Congressional approval if the President deems a threat "urgent."
The Legal Sticking Points:
The 60-Day Clock: Under the War Powers Act, the President has 60 days to get authorization before being forced to withdraw. The Senate resolution aims to shorten that clock to zero.
The "Imminence" Debate: Critics argue the administration hasn't provided a shred of intelligence proving Iran was about to attack the U.S. mainland or its assets.
Funding the Fight: The real teeth of the Senate’s move? A threat to block an emergency $40 billion supplemental funding bill for the strikes.
2026 Midterm Heat
With the 2026 Midterms just months away, this legal battle is also a political minefield. Vulnerable incumbents are being forced to choose between supporting a "wartime President" or standing up for "Constitutional checks and balances."
Polls taken in the last 24 hours show a nation split right down the middle, but one thing is clear: the Senate floor is about to become the most important battlefield of the month.
The Vote is scheduled for Monday night. If it passes, we are looking at a historic Constitutional crisis that could end up in the Supreme Court before the week is out.
