Eli Lake, Columnist

Obama Should Thank Trump for Putting Iran on Notice

A little strategic unpredictability may save the nuclear deal and avert war in the Middle East.

February 3, 2017 at 5:00 AM EST

Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering national security and foreign policy. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI.

Who's testing whom?
Photographer: Mahmood Hosseini/AFP/Getty Images

Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal

LEARN MORE

This article is for subscribers only.

Don't say Donald Trump never did anything for Barack Obama. On Wednesday, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn put Iran "on notice" for its ballistic missile test and its arming, training and equipping of Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The early reaction from the network of groups that pushed for the Iran nuclear deal has been shock and horror. The Arms Control Association warned President Trump against "provoking confrontation." The National Iranian American Council said Flynn's warning was "reckless." Ben Rhodes, Obama's top national-security adviser, let loose about it on his twitter feed.

Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal

LEARN MORE