The Straits of Hormuz: America’s Gallipoli?

When a military operation becomes a suicide mission.

Here we go again. When the target list for air and missile attack runs out the war is supposed to end. Predictably, Washington’s war against Iran is lasting longer than the target list.

DC expected Tehran to capitulate to Israeli demands long before the target list was exhausted. Whether President Trump realizes it or not, EPIC FURY looks like a “whole of government” failure that may well cost him his presidency.

EPIC FURY is a “whole of government” failure that may well cost him his presidency.

The air and missile campaign that began with limited objectives (and limited means) is now an American war of attrition waged without allies on behalf of the Israeli State for the total destruction of the Iran.

With few exceptions, the Intel Community (IC), a grab bag of 17 intelligence and defense agencies underestimated Iranian capabilities and the US Military (USM) was ill-prepared for this conflict.

For Tehran, the war with the United States and Israel now endangers the very existence of Iran’s national community, the Iranian State as well as the destruction of Persian national identity. Iran cannot lose this war and survive.

For the Trump Administration, defeating the Ayatollahs and the IRGC is essential to reassert USM supremacy and America’s long-term strategic position in the Middle East (ME). Such asinine framing is a dangerous delusion motivating ever riskier operations from which an already frazzled Trump White House may not recover. How did we get here?