Daniel Davis Deep Dive Deep Dive Intel Briefing: What We Learned This Week /Lt Col Daniel Davis
Jan 31, 2026
A focused briefing on rising tensions with Iran, examining mixed information, contested U.S. objectives, and Iran's dispersed defenses. Discussion covers limits of U.S. military options and why allies hesitate to join strikes. The conversation then shifts to European security prospects, energy pauses in the Russia-Ukraine war, and what to expect from upcoming high-level talks.
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Unclear Objectives Undermine Military Power
- President Trump has not defined a clear, attainable military objective regarding Iran, leaving strategy opaque. Without a stated political end-state, deployed combat power may not achieve a coherent national-security outcome.
Demands Create A One-Sided Negotiation
- Reported U.S. demands would require Iran to surrender major deterrents while receiving little in return. That imbalance makes meaningful negotiation unlikely and risks being perceived as a push for regime change.
Iran's Dispersed Survivability
- Alistair Crook described Iran's dispersed survivability posture with missiles in tunnels and buried silos across many districts. Daniel Davis recalled seeing similar resilience and succession planning among insurgent groups in Iraq and Afghanistan.