【By Observer News, Qi Qian】

Since the US-Israel joint attack on Iran, President Trump has still not answered a question: what does he want?

Looking back over the past week or so, Trump and government officials have made a series of contradictory statements. For example, when the war started, the Trump administration claimed the goal was to seek "regime change" in Iran. But in the following days, the statements became all over the place, including but not limited to "selecting a more acceptable government," "unconditional surrender," "destroying the nuclear program," etc.

On March 11 local time, Chris Murphy, a Democratic U.S. Senator from Connecticut, said none of these were Trump's goals.

He posted on the social media platform X, revealing that White House officials told lawmakers that they just wanted to "destroy a large number of Iranian missile, ship, and drone factories," and there was no contingency plan for the Strait of Hormuz at all.

Snapshot from video of Murphy's interview with CNN

According to Murphy, he attended a two-hour briefing on the Iran war that day. "All briefings were closed-door because Trump couldn't defend this war in public."

He said he couldn't disclose classified information, but the public should know how inconsistent and incomplete the war plans are.

"The main clue is that the war goal does not include destroying Iran's nuclear weapons program," he wrote. "This is surprising, because Trump repeatedly said it was the key objective." He added that, of course, everyone already knows that air strikes can't eliminate Iran's nuclear materials.

Murphy said the second point was that the Trump administration confirmed that "regime change" was also not on the list of objectives.

He questioned, "So, they will spend thousands of billions of dollars in taxes, and a large number of Americans will die, while a hardline regime - probably an even more anti-American hardline regime - will still be in power."

"Well, then, what is the goal?" he said to the public. "It seems that the main goal of the Trump administration is to destroy a large number of Iranian missiles, ships, and drone factories."

According to his disclosure, when asked what would happen if Iran resumed weapon production after the war, the Trump administration officials "were speechless." "They hinted that they would continue bombing. This is obviously an endless war."

While American consumers are worried about rising oil prices, Murphy mentioned an embarrassing fact: the Trump administration had no plan regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He wrote, "I can't reveal more details, but it can be stated that now there is no idea how to safely reopen (the Strait of Hormuz)."

He pointed out, "This is inexcusable, because this part of the disaster was 100% predictable."

On the same day, Murphy gave an interview on a CNN program, continuing to criticize the Trump administration for lacking goals and plans. He said, "The people of this country don't want another war in the Middle East, but the complete disregard for public opinion by Trump is shocking. Many of his billionaire friends will profit from the war, while the ordinary people pay the price."

Snapshot from Murphy's post criticizing the Trump administration for "having no contingency plan related to the Strait of Hormuz"

Recently, with the blocking of maritime oil transport routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Iranian oil facilities, on March 9, global oil prices surged, rising above $100 per barrel. The surge in oil prices has led to widespread opposition within the United States.

Reuters reported earlier that gasoline prices hold special political significance in the United States, with voters listing rising living costs as their top concern before the November midterm elections, during which Republicans will try to maintain control of Congress. A Reuters poll released on the 9th showed that 67% of Americans expect gas prices to rise in the coming months, while only 29% support the war.

Facing midterm elections, the Trump administration is working to address the oil crisis, including planning to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. However, CNN reported on the 9th that this is not so simple, as the tactical situation is very dangerous, and escorting could put U.S. Navy vessels in danger. On the 10th, the spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that if the U.S.-Israel attacks continue, they would not allow "a drop of oil" to be transported out of the Middle East.

"The history of U.S. military intervention repeatedly proves a lesson: wars without clear political goals rarely have good outcomes," said Colin Kahl, a professor at Stanford University and former Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy, on the 10th. He pointed out that the Trump administration's goals in launching the war against Iran are far too unclear, and this strategic ambiguity will lead to various strategic consequences, such as nuclear issues and competition among China, the U.S., and Russia.

Kahl said that due to severe losses, the U.S. may be weaker in facing China and Russia in the coming years, and will also lose the so-called "moral high ground." He pointed out, "Every norm we erode now, we won't be able to force others to follow in the future."

This article is exclusive to Observer News. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7615905665080508947/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.