I don't think anyone is too surprised by this lineup.
Or the discovery that President Trump was leaning toward not recertifying Iran's compliance with the Obama nuke sellout. Or that McMaster and Tillerson once again played the expected diplomatic appeasement role while Bannon, Gorka and Pompeo represented American interests.
Nonetheless, Trump's State Department in the spring certified Iran was in compliance. On Monday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was supposed to certify Iranian compliance again. Talking points were sent to columnists. Senior administration officials briefed analysts on a conference call. The Treasury Department was set to announce new sanctions against a number of Iranians to soften the blow for the Republican base. Allies in Congress were given a heads-up.
There was just one problem: Donald Trump. In meetings with his national security cabinet, the president has never been keen on Obama's nuclear deal. What's more, Iran's regional behavior has only been getting worse since his inauguration.
So just as Tillerson was preparing to inform Congress on Monday that Iran remained in compliance with what is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Trump called it off, according to administration officials. He wanted to know his options and what would happen if Tillerson didn't make the announcement.
Obviously the announcement was made. Team Appeasement got its way on foreign policy. A source tells me that Gorka played a crucial role in arguing for the anti-Iran side.
Administration officials tell me that National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Tillerson have made the case that it was in the U.S. national interest to certify Iran's compliance.
Much as it's in our national interest to support Qatar and undermine the coalition against it. And to praise Islam.
Others in the administration, including CIA Director Mike Pompeo and senior strategist Steve Bannon, have argued against the deal.
And Iran responded by taking an American grad student hostage.
Business as usual.