How Does The War End?
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David French has a situation report (gift link).
Not only does Iran continue to strike American bases effectively; it has relentlessly attacked American partners across the region. These attacks are doing immense damage to oil and gas facilities and — combined with Iran’s continued control over the Strait of Hormuz — are placing the world economy at risk.
The Houthis have entered the conflict, expanding the fighting into the Red Sea, and now Saudi Arabia is reportedly planning a large-scale attack on Houthi territory, including, potentially, the use of ground forces to attempt to break the Houthi shipping blockade.
Ukraine struck an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, the immense body of water that borders both Russia and Iran. Ukraine said it did this because the ship was carrying military equipment between the two countries.
Russia and China may be assisting the Iranian military by providing satellite imagery and other assistance that renders Iranian missile and drone attacks more effective. Reuters has also reported that China is sending Iran hundreds of surface-to-air missiles.
Donald Trump has no idea of what to do. He has had no clear aims throughout, because his original purpose was to take over Iran the way he did Venezuela. Everything he has said since then about objectives has been backfill to justify having the military there. He orders bombing, and then, in response to something, he calls it off. It would be good to know what that something is, and it’s possible that people closer to him know what it is. Because it’s time for the Senate Republican leadership to make a visit to the White House, as the leadership did to Richard Nixon.
End the war or be impeached.
There would be a vote on war powers to indicate that Congress supports that visit. The delegation should be made up of senators who are seen to be serious by the public as well as some that Trump likes. Maybe John Thune, Lisa Murkowski, Tom Cotton, Tim Scott, Katie Britt, Mike Lee, and Cynthia Lummis.
They should have a recommended path of action, because Trump has no idea of what to do. End the bombing and the blockade. Make a speech saying that this is intended to end the war. The rest can be pulled from the MOU, which seems to be Iran’s demands anyway. Constitute a negotiating team of professionals to end the war, not “to make a deal.” They should also have a list of recommended professionals.
Will this happen any time soon? In 2019, the Associated Press opined it wouldn’t. But we are six years down the line, with polling numbers sinking and an election coming up. Trump has already tossed John Cornyn and Thom Tillis to the wolves. Nor had Trump started down the road of major war in 2019. So it’s worth reminding our elected representatives that they have options.