Dylan Vorbach

Senior Advisor to @SenMcConnell.

Hard Power, Soft Power | @NavalWarCollege | @WilliamandMary

[Walter Russell Mead @wrmead]

I’m old enough to remember when some American conservatives mistook Hungary’s Fidesz party for a loyal bulwark of Western Christian civilization.

[Preston Stewart @prestonstew_]

"If we’re serious about “drone dominance,” we shouldn’t sandbag a relationship with the world’s foremost drone experts. And if we’re keen on remaining the world’s preeminent superpower, we shouldn’t let unelected defense officials undermine U.S. leadership and obstruct deepening ties with Ukraine’s innovative military and industrial base."
-Senator McConnell

[Neil Renic @NC_Renic]

Handing your 7000 words over the word limit draft to your co-author

[Aaron MacLean @AaronBMacLean]

Fascinating report on how the US military is deploying in Saudi Arabia not only counter-drone interceptors used in Ukraine, but also *Ukrainian-designed command and control systems* focused on air defense. (I was told we had little to learn from Ukraine!)
https://t.co/UYiQsUQOpd

[U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell @SenMcConnell]

This is good news. Good if you want peace for Ukraine. Good if you want greater burden-sharing on defense.
https://t.co/nZVeG8vtje

[Dylan Vorbach @DylanVorbach]

McConnell: Orban’s fawning servitude to authoritarians doesn’t reflect American values. [M]ore importantly, his govt’s fealty to Moscow, willingness to be a gateway for China’s predatory machinations, and deepening ties w/Iran run counter to US interests.

https://t.co/EFHSIsGlDz

[Jay Nordlinger @jaynordlinger]

As Sen. Mitch McConnell has repeatedly pointed out, Orbán has close ties to Russia, China, and Iran, the three foremost enemies of the United States. Yet he is a hero of the GOP and the “conservative” movement. Thus has our country changed.

[Connor O'Brien @connorobrienNH]

Mitch McConnell and Chris Coons, top R and D on Senate Defense Approps, out with a bipartisan defense of NATO, saying the US “will remain” in the alliance.

“The Senate will continue to support the alliance for the peace and protection it provides America, Europe, and the world.”

[Luke Coffey @LukeDCoffey]

This is misleading. Other than Patriots (of which we have only provided 3 systems, I believe) the weapons and munitions used against Iran are not what we were giving to Ukraine. If U.S. stockpiles are running low for Iran operations Ukraine is *not* the reason.

[Rebeccah Heinrichs @RLHeinrichs]

Again. The “restrainers” were not alone in recognizing that we have a limited number of interceptors. The debate was over what to DO ABOUT it. Restrainers want us to tolerate things like a nuclear Iran/Islamist pirates in what they call non priority theaters. Reagan Rs said no: build more, use them if needed, and work w/ allies.

[Dylan Vorbach @DylanVorbach]

Alison’s right. It’s quite possible to conduct righteous, warranted, and even overdue use of military force while resisting the temptation to game-ify war.

[Alison Spann @newsgirlalison]

Spend an afternoon with a Gold Star child or an operator who lost 24 friends in combat and watch how fast the war memes stop being funny. Really gross stuff.

[George Barros @georgewbarros]

Russia has openly self-defined the US as Russia's adversary for decades. US strategy must call a spade and spade and proceed from the simple fact that Russia is a US adversary.

Every attempted reset from the past two decades has been a failure and led us to where we are now.

[Kate B. Odell @katebachwsj]

I am bookmarking every one of these tweets for when there's a triple-digit billion request for U.S. military money before Congress in the coming weeks.

The sudden concern for U.S. weapons arsenals is welcome, and look forward to their support & extensive coverage

[Meaghan Mobbs @mobbs_mentality]

It’s only a trap if there are consequences.

[U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell @SenMcConnell]

U.S.-Israeli operations in Iran are succeeding on two levels: destroying Iran’s military and terror capacity AND exposing the impotence of online isolationists who thought they could launder anti-Semitism and retreat into U.S. policy. It’s time to reject these views once and for all.

[Dylan Vorbach @DylanVorbach]

Well-deserved recognition for a passion project that's become essential listening. Excited to see where Aaron takes us next!

[Aaron MacLean @AaronBMacLean]

Some personal news!

I’m joining @CBSNews and @TheFP, and @schoolofwarpod is moving to a new home at The Free Press.

Check out a live-streamed episode of School of War at noon ET today with former CENTCOM commander General Frank McKenzie, where we’ll unpack the war in Iran.

[Dylan Vorbach @DylanVorbach]

“The President will have willing allies if he sends Congress a supplemental military funding request, and @SenMcConnell has been warning… about insufficient money for munitions.”

[Wall Street Journal Opinion @WSJopinion]

The sleeper risk to U.S. weapons supplies is retreating from the fight before Iran’s capacity to menace the world is eliminated.
https://t.co/is0cZet3FC

[Rebeccah Heinrichs @RLHeinrichs]

It wld be wise for US officials to use this time to lead and repair damaged relations.
And the U.S. shld never ever think about threatening to forcibly annex friendly territory. It has big and lasting impacts.

[Jonathan Martin @jmart]

As Tehran was being pounded by U.S. and Israeli bombs on Saturday morning, its top diplomat dialed Moscow’s number. 

On the other end of the line, according to an official Russian statement, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered his Iranian counterpart sympathy and promised his — verbal — support.

Iran, thus, became the latest country after Syria and Venezuela to feel firsthand what partnership with Russia does, and doesn’t, mean.

[U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell @SenMcConnell]

The Islamic Republic of Iran made “death to America; death to Israel” a central pillar of its brutal rule.  For decades, it wielded violence and repression at home and exported violence and terrorism abroad. 

Today, my prayers are with the brave U.S. and Israeli servicemembers carrying out Operation Epic Fury, and with the people of Iran who have long struggled for the right to determine their own future. A regime that relishes killing Arabs, Israelis, Americans, and its own people deserves no sympathy.