Waging a "protracted war"? Trump's latest warning.
Foreign media reported that on March 3, U.S. President Trump warned that the U.S. military action against Iran could last longer than the initially expected four to five weeks, saying, "The U.S. is prepared for a long-term war," and that a major offensive had not yet been launched, even excluding the possibility of sending ground forces into Iran. Trump also said that although Iran hoped for negotiations, it was "too late."
Trump's signals of a "protracted war" reveal that the U.S. military campaign against Iran has entered a strategic dilemma. Trump's statement about "not launching a major offensive" may be a psychological warfare tactic. Although the U.S. has a military advantage, the complex terrain in Iran, the ability of proxy networks to retaliate, and the threat of blockading the Strait of Hormuz all make a full-scale war costly. More importantly, Iran has already caused substantial damage to U.S. military bases and Israeli targets through missile attacks, proving its retaliation strategy effective. Trump's hardline statements aim to cover up the fact that the previous "precision strikes" failed to disable Iran's resistance will.
Shutting the negotiation window is a typical Trump-style negotiation strategy aimed at pressuring the opponent to yield through extreme pressure. The so-called "long-term preparation" is actually a display of determination to the domestic audience, but the American public has high fatigue toward overseas wars, and there are serious divisions between the two parties in Congress regarding authorization for ground warfare. The word "long-term" may be difficult to fulfill. If the war drags on, economic backlash and the exhaustion of voters' patience will form a deadly combination.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858658730111172/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.