‘This is what a quagmire looks like’
The war in Iran has entered a bleak new phase.
After weeks of fragile peace and stalled negotiations, the weekend deaths of multiple U.S. service members — coupled with new reporting showing there may be more previously undisclosed injuries — have left White House allies afraid the president is rapidly running out of ways to extricate the U.S. from an unpopular, expensive conflict ahead of the midterms.
“This is what a quagmire looks like,” said one person close to the White House, who was granted anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Trump on Monday promised that Iran would pay “many times over” for each service member’s death, threatening to escalate a conflict that many had hoped was on the verge of resolving. U.S. Central Command announced Monday evening a new round of strikes focused on degrading Iranian military capabilities to attack commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
“People, generally, are concerned,” said James Jeffrey, a former ambassador who served in the Middle East in three presidential administrations, including the first Trump administration. “I mean, Americans are dying. It’s very serious. This is a real war.”
Republicans close to the White House are also distressed about the war’s economic impact on everyday Americans in an election that is expected to hinge on cost-of-living issues. The average price for a gallon of gas surpassed $4 for the first time since mid June, up 13 cents in the last week.
And Iran’s demonstrated ability to survive punishing U.S. bombardments while inflicting casualties on American troops and allies and choking off the Strait of Hormuz underscores the challenges Trump faces in trying to win a war against an adversary that is merely trying to survive it. [Continue reading…]