Trump's Iran war has no clear endgame

[marmar]

Trump’s Iran war has no clear endgame
Republicans and a former Pentagon official raise concerns over the war's conduct and what victory means

By Brian Karem
White House columnist
Published March 27, 2026 6:45AM (EDT)


(Salon) There is nothing more frightening than a commander-in-chief who has no idea what he’s doing, and many in Congress fear that’s exactly what we face as Donald Trump continues to prosecute his war in Iran.

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Trump said Tuesday in a gaggle outside Air Force One that there is a 15-point plan for peace. Leavitt followed his comments by saying on Wednesday that anyone who reports that isn’t reporting the truth, but only part of the truth. That’s an odd way of saying the president isn’t telling the truth. It took two Pakistani officials to describe the broad strokes of the 15-point plan on Wednesday, revealing it addressed sanctions relief, a roll back of Iran’s nuclear program, limits on missiles and — wait for it — reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

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The lies are compounding daily, and the fear of an escalating war continues to mount as other countries in the region say attacks by Iran and its allied groups “must stop.” The death toll has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran and over 1,000 in Lebanon, as well as 16 in Israel and 13 U.S. service members.

Trump is now preparing to send 2,000 to 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne to the Middle East. He’s already committed 5,000 Marines, and there are roughly 50,000 troops already in the Middle East, despite Trump’s claim last week that he’s “not putting troops anywhere.”

“The question isn’t whether or not he’s lying,” a former Pentagon insider told me Wednesday. “It’s why is he lying?” Otherwise, they said, “we’re in it now and we have to let the military accomplish their objectives.” ....................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2026/03/27/trumps-iran-war-has-no-clear-endgame/