4 articles
Retired General David Deptula warns that a U.S. ground invasion of Iran carries no guarantees and risks 'mission creep,' potentially leading to prolonged conflict. As the U.S. considers ground troop options, objectives appear to be shifting from regime change to managing economic fallout and securing maritime routes.
The escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran carries immense costs with questionable benefits. With mission creep a serious risk, the situation appears to be worsening, potentially leading to a protracted and disastrous engagement.
The Trump White House's rhetoric on ending military operations, particularly concerning Iran, raises alarms about potentially indefinite conflicts. The emphasis on "complete and unconditional surrender" as the sole determinant for concluding military action echoes the dangers of "mission creep" and the specter of "forever wars," drawing parallels to costly and prolonged historical engagements.
Despite campaigning against foreign entanglements, the Trump administration's intervention in Venezuela, dubbed 'nation-building light,' risks repeating past U.S. failures in Afghanistan and Iraq. This strategy, aiming for remote control and oil extraction, faces severe challenges including economic realities, an escalating humanitarian crisis, and the inherent difficulty of establishing legitimacy without direct commitment to democratic state-building.
