Trump is now caught in the oldest trap of modern warfare – believing a swift, surgical military operation will yield quick, enduring political results. The Soviets did it in Afghanistan; the US in Iraq in 2003; Putin did it in Ukraine, and is still fighting. Whatever force a military fails or succeeds in applying at the start, the people it is attacking have greater commitment to defending their lands and homes.

The White House may have rushed into this, seizing the opportunity for a decapitation strike, provided by Israeli intelligence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has very different objectives regionally, and a long US involvement against Tehran suits his desire for an Iran in rolling collapse that is no longer a threat. But the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28 has caused as many problems as it has solved.

  • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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    23 hours ago

    Trump, as an individual may not have a way out. Remember, Epstein was Mossad-trained and probably shared a lot of useful dirt with Israel.

    But there is always a path to peace; and in this case it starts with the US backing off. Iran doesn’t have much capacity for war beyond protecting itself.

    Exactly the same as how there’s a way for Russia to have peace in Ukraine.