Iran’s New Missile Range Strains US, Israel in Costly War

Iran’s Missile Reach Expands, Threatening Europe

A recent Iranian missile launch has expanded concerns for the United States and Israel, with a retired general warning that Iran’s military capabilities may be underestimated. The missile, fired towards Diego Garcia, a U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean, reportedly fell short or was intercepted. However, its significant range, approaching that of an intercontinental ballistic missile, suggests Iran can now threaten parts of Europe.

“What it shows is it’s a capability that Iran’s military had that I don’t think was tracked by the U.S. or Israel for that kind of range,” stated retired Major General Dana Pittard, former Deputy Commanding General of Operations for U.S. Central Command. “The Iranians have the capability of hitting portions of Europe also. So that is a concern.”

War of Attrition Looms as Defense Costs Mount

Pittard also highlighted the financial strain of a prolonged conflict, particularly concerning the cost of defending against Iranian attacks. He pointed out that Israel uses expensive Patriot missiles and other interceptors, costing millions, to counter cheap Iranian Shahed drones that cost only thousands.

“That is unsustainable over time,” Pittard explained. “So if Iran is to be defeated, they need to be defeated sooner rather than later. And more decisively.” He added that replenishing defense capabilities could take a significant amount of time, as major defense contractors produce a limited number of interceptors annually. “That kind of arithmetic is not in the favor of the U.S. and Israel,” he concluded.

Public Opinion Divided on War’s Progress

Meanwhile, public opinion in the U.S. appears divided. A CBS poll indicated that 43 percent of respondents believe the conflict is going well, while 57 percent feel it is progressing poorly. Philip Bump, an MSNBC columnist, noted that these numbers are not unusual for wartime polling and are influenced by partisanship.

However, deeper analysis of polling data reveals significant public concerns. A Washington Post poll showed that only one in eight Americans approve of sending U.S. troops into the conflict zone. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of Americans feel they haven’t been adequately informed about the reasons for U.S. involvement, a sentiment not helped by changing messages from the administration.

Disconnect Between Public Desire and Perceived Plans

Despite widespread public disapproval of the war’s current trajectory and potential escalation, a majority of Americans (53% in the CBS poll) believe it would be unacceptable to leave the current Iranian regime in place. Bump explained this apparent contradiction: “American people are… I think it is clearly the case that the regime that ran Iran is a net negative in the world.”

The challenge, he suggested, lies in the perceived lack of a clear plan to achieve this goal. “Would people like to see the regime fall? Yes. But it’s not clear that the administration has a plan to see that.” Pittard agreed, emphasizing that Iran must not be allowed to continue posing a threat to its neighbors and the world.

Hope for De-escalation through Strait Reopening

Amidst the ongoing tensions, there is hope that reopening the Strait of Hormuz could ease economic pressure. If the waterway can be reopened, leading to a potential drop in gas prices internationally and domestically, it could significantly reduce pressure on the administration. However, analysts caution that long-term damage to infrastructure may make a full return to normalcy difficult, even if the strait is reopened.

Pittard reiterated that Iran still possesses considerable military capabilities, including drones and missiles, and that the regime remains a significant threat. He stressed the need for a decisive end to the conflict to prevent Iran from continuing to destabilize the region.

Source: Math is ‘not in favor of U.S. or Israel’ in terms of cost of lengthy war: Retired General (YouTube)