‘No clear goal’: lack of Iran war plan has unleashed chaos and could stymie US military for decades, say critics
White House contends with reality of shoddy preparations for war and unclear conditions for victory
The aim of the US mission has shifted repeatedly since January’s naval buildup – from backing Iranian protesters being killed in a government crackdown, to eliminating Iran’s nuclear programme, to knocking out its ballistic missiles system.
Now it has focused on a new goal–that of opening the strait of Hormuz, whose closure has sent prices for oil to more than $100 a barrel and even prompted the Trump administration to halt sanctions on Russian oil, reversing its policy in a different war.
“Each of these goals would have required a different military strategy,” said Michael Singh, managing director of the Washington Institute and a former senior director for Middle East affairs at the national security council under George W Bush.
LACEY WYANT