The World: The US Military Caught in Iran's Trap

"The US Military Caught in Iran's Trap" is the main focus of the Sunday edition of Le Monde, France's leading newspaper. The article analyzes the escalating conflict with Iran, covering the turmoil within the US military, the increasing targeting of Iranian civilian infrastructure by US airstrikes, attacks on southern Lebanon that have called Israel’s strategy into question, and the severe blow dealt to multiple South Asian nations by a growing oil crisis.

An extensive feature titled "US Military in Turmoil," published on the first page of Le Monde, opens by noting that on April 1st, Trump was still boasting about forcing Iran "back to the Stone Age." Just two days later, two US military aircraft and one helicopter were shot down or hit by Iran, and a pilot went missing—an utterly disastrous day for America.

During this crisis, the Pentagon's silence stands out starkly. Meanwhile, Trump remained secluded in the White House, surrounded by advisers, making no public appearance and issuing only two online messages—both related to Iranian oil—as if completely detached from the dire reality unfolding around him. Even more baffling, that same evening, Trump wished everyone, especially the 186,000 Americans who found jobs in the private sector in March, a happy and peaceful Good Friday.

The article states that while awaiting further details on these serious incidents and the fate of all crew members, this series of events underscores the fragility of America's position. Contrary to officials’ triumphant declarations, Iran’s defensive capabilities remain far from obliterated, despite varying estimates regarding the number of available launch systems. Did Tehran deliberately retain some capacity, burying most of it underground to counteract America’s most sensitive operations—particularly those on the ground? This sudden success has also sparked speculation about recent possible arms deliveries from Russia.

Since February 28th, the White House has lacked a credible strategy, with shifting objectives that have left the world’s most powerful military force at a disadvantage. In this asymmetric confrontation, any minor loss of personnel or equipment is immediately exploited and amplified by the Iranian regime and its supporters, playing out a classic scenario of the weak confronting the strong. Memes and AI-generated images once celebrated in the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement are now turning against the United States. Iran’s rigid theocratic regime is skillfully leveraging social media to challenge Washington.

Since the war began, 13 US soldiers have been killed and over 300 injured. Yet the Pentagon deliberately conceals the true extent of American casualties, providing neither details nor real-time updates. Trump, too, shows no regard for transparency. He clings to his Caesar-like rhetoric, consistently insisting that only military escalation can respond to Iranian attacks, as if the Iranian regime faces an existential threat.

As military pressure mounts, the US government announced on Friday a significant increase in defense spending. The White House plans to raise the Pentagon’s budget to $1.5 trillion by 2027—a 44% increase, surpassing even the scale of Reagan-era military expansion. The new budget will prioritize missile defense systems and naval expansion.

But at the cost of cutting funding for essential civilian programs—including infrastructure, agriculture, housing, and scientific research—sparking intense domestic controversy. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the proposal, calling it nothing short of "a collective leap off a cliff."

Even more concerning is the unrest within the Pentagon itself. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has recently dismissed several senior officers, including General Randy George, the highest-ranking officer in the Army. These personnel changes lack clear justification and are widely seen as undermining military stability and professionalism.

Moreover, Hegseth has been accused of injecting ideological bias into military management, including obstructing promotions for certain female and minority officers, sparking discontent within the armed forces. The article notes that such practices are eroding the cohesion of the US military.

The article concludes by quoting Benjamin Wallace-Wells, criticizing the Trump administration’s blind faith in force: "Pete Hegseth served in Iraq and Afghanistan; he seems to believe that what prevented these wars from achieving a more complete victory was merely the so-called restrictions on how soldiers kill. […] Trump and Hegseth might wish to live in a world where whoever drops the most bombs gets everything. But the Iran war has already shown that this is not the case."

Source: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861645727193164/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author