Has America Failed in Iran?

[May 21, 2026]  Undoubtedly, our military will study for years to come, the “war” on Iran.  It will be seen as a case of overwhelming kinetic strength (U.S. forces) versus leadership willpower (Iran).  More importantly, the war’s impact on America and its allies will reshape how world governments operate for decades to come.  However, the short-term question is, “Has America failed in Iran?”

As John Hinderaker noted in PowerLineBlog, the war has united Americans across their ideological divides.  “Liberals are rooting for the mullahs and are delighted that so far, they [Iran’s IRGC] have been able to hang on.”  Opposed are conservatives who are “frustrated because we don’t understand why President Trump has allowed third-generation mullahs and the IRGC to stall for over a month…”

“In this whole picture, the most dispiriting element is the spectacle of one of our major parties enthusiastically cheering on America’s most vicious enemy.” – John Hinderaker, PowerLineBlog

For transparency, I hold a strong bias against their Islamic government because it has directly led to the deaths of many Americans for nearly half a century.  I lost many friends who were killed by IEDs designed and built by Iran, singularly for the purpose of killing American troops in Iraq.  I have zero sympathy for the country.  Their people have tolerated this aggressive and untrustworthy government for too long.  Now, it’s time to pay a price for their behavior.

We all know that Iran has been the primary source of violence in the Middle East.  As it seeks a deliverable nuclear warhead to use on Israel and to threaten its neighbors, its erratic behavior has led to pushback.  The United States has stepped in and done what too many quisling governments were afraid to do.  A nuclear weapon in the hands of fanatics is bad business.  The untold destruction or threat of destruction would be enough to create an even greater firestorm in the near future.  It’s time they are stopped.

Has America failed in Iran?  The answer is “no.”  The ability of Iran to develop a deliverable nuclear weapon has been destroyed.  They are set back for at least a decade, according to U.S. military assessments.  That was the core reason President Trump greenlighted military forces to hammer Iran’s military infrastructure and its leadership.  Our intent was never regime change, although that would be a positive side benefit.  

So, where do we go from here?  Does America just walk away and call it a victory?  It is clearly a military victory, yet one that is hard to sell to anyone in America.  Or does President Trump accept a lukewarm deal?  Or does he send in the Marines to finish them off?  I have no idea.  And that means no one else has any idea what President Trump will do.  That is a good thing..

Keep everyone guessing.  The world will know Trump’s strategy only after it is underway, and too late for Iran to counter it.  And, so far, his instincts have been spot-on.  Let’s get on with it.  I personally favor a full kinetic strike that destroys Iran’s key civilian infrastructure (bridges and power plants) because that sends the most powerful message that cannot be interpreted any other way.

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Please read my books:

1. “55 Rules for a Good Life,” on Amazon (link here).
2. “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” on Amazon (link here).