Intelligence is one thing, and machines can be imbued with it. But wisdom, morality and intuition are the domain of humans. They should never be removed from the chain of command.
Page A7From§Eachthe coffee break edition — 31 August 2026
Trump posts AI video of Iran strike as Pentagon debates AI nukes
Artificial intelligence has become a staple in both military planning and political communication. The Pentagon's concerns about AI leading nuclear command are well-founded; after all, national security requires the highest level of scrutiny. At the same time, former President Trump posts an AI-generated video depicting a strike on Iran's Kharg Island, blurring the line between real and virtual warfare. The juxtaposition is striking: the Pentagon worries about AI taking the helm on the nuclear front, while political figures use AI to project military power in the media sphere. The official line is that AI represents progress, a tool to enhance both defense and engagement. But the reality is more complicated. The risk of delegating command to algorithms is matched by the risk of delegating narrative to deepfakes. AI can inform, or it can mislead. The debate inside the Pentagon is about control—who gets to call the shots, and who gets to shape the story. The technology is advancing, but the judgment is lagging. The public is left to sort out the difference between real missiles and real pixels, a task that gets harder every day. The official position is caution, but the practice is acceleration. The machines are not just making the decisions; they're making the headlines. The boundaries are blurred, and the stakes are high.
“The Pentagon thinks AI nukes are a bad idea, but Trump posts an AI video of blowing up Iran. When the line between real war and deepfake war gets blurry, the machines take over both sides of the fight. Nobody asks if the AI can tell the difference.”
“Artificial intelligence is a tool for both defense and communication. The Pentagon is cautious about AI in nuclear command, and the president's use of AI-generated video is simply a new way to inform the public. Did I say inform? I meant engage. The technology is advancing, not replacing judgment.”
The receipts
Donald Trump posted an AI video showing Iran's Kharg Island destroyed, hours after real US airstrikes hit rocket launchers on Larak Island.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.