Vietnam Redux

An American occupation of Kharg Island would start another forever war. Trump may have no choice.

Two weeks into this war, and it is going as well as anyone who is outside Washington could expect. The United States and Israel continue to attempt to bomb Iran into submission, which like most aerial bombardment campaigns has hardened the resolve of the Iranian people. There have been notable successes, such as the assassination of the Ayatollah Khamenei on the first day. There have also been inexcusable tragedies, such as the bombing of a girls’ school in southern Iran that killed over 170, also on the first day.

Iran’s fast and furious response — closing the Strait of Hormuz, targeting US military assets throughout the Middle East, and pressuring the GCC economies — has surprised and shaken the Trump administration. In a major escalation, Trump has ordered the bombing of Kharg Island, and the Pentagon has ordered the deployment of at least 2,500 marines to the Middle East from Japan. There is now fear that the marines will be ordered to seize and occupy Kharg Island, which Trump believes would strangle the Iranian war economy.