James Clapper: “I found the timing interesting given the increasing heat around the impeachment inquiry.”

Well, no, it doesn't. And the fact that none of this makes sense, but most acutely, I think, nuclear-related information.

I think right now, they're assessing the administration -- that's the National Security Council specifically, is assessing the impacts of this first round of strikes.

I think this reflects Russian insecurity. And it's almost like, Putin needs a rhetorical security blanket, of making threats, like this.

Ties with Tehran offer some regional governments a means of staking an independent position on Iran, thereby mitigating its isolation while also attempting to extract Iranian financial aid and investment for economic and social projects.