War with Iran Part II

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06/04/2026 09:47

Subject: War with Iran Part II

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Anonymous

https://iol.co.za/news/brics/2026-05-22-brics-series-how-the-us-iran-conflict-is-shaping-up-as-one-of-the-most-embarrassing-military-episodes-in-american-history/

Since US and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran in late February 2026, Americans have been treated to a spectacle that would be almost comical if real lives and livelihoods were not at stake. The war began without a congressional declaration, without a formal strategy, and according to multiple intelligence sources, without even a clear and honest justification. At his State of the Union address in February, President Trump claimed Iran had restarted its nuclear program and was developing missiles capable of striking the United States. US intelligence reports, however, suggested Iran posed no such military threat and would need until 2035 to build such missiles (if it chose to do so at all). The administration offered a rotating carousel of rationales for the war like preventing Iranian retaliation on Israel, destroying missile capabilities, seizing oil resources and regime change.

What followed has been a masterclass in strategic incoherence. Trump declared a ceasefire in April, announcing it had been a resounding success and that the "longterm problem" was "close to resolution." Days later, the ceasefire was described as being on "life support." Then came the deadlines, a parade of ultimatums that Washington set and then quietly shelved.

The most recent episode may be the most revealing of all. On Sunday, May 18, Trump warned on Truth Social that Iran had better "get moving, FAST," or "there won't be anything left of them." Twenty-four hours later, he announced on the same platform that he had called off a "scheduled" attack planned for Tuesday, at the personal request of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Qatar's Emir, and the UAE's President. He framed it as a gesture of respect toward his Gulf allies.

There was just one problem: Gulf country officials, speaking to The Wall Street Journal, said they had no idea the attack had even been planned. And reporting from Axios suggested Trump had not actually made a final decision to strike before announcing its postponement. In short, the president may have publicly credited foreign leaders with talking him out of a war he had not yet decided to fight, using allies who had not made the request he described to provide diplomatic cover for his own hesitation.

This is the kind of story that historians will find extraordinary. A sitting US president, unable or unwilling to define what victory looks like, bouncing between threats of annihilation and last-minute reprieves with the improvisational rhythm of a social media feed. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer captured the absurdity bluntly, accusing Trump of acting "like a toddler playing with a loaded gun."