As the war in Iran continues, it is apparent that there is no coherent strategy to end it. Since the decision to enter the war was ill conceived, this is no surprise.

Typically, when there is a stalemate, which is where we are now, negotiations begin in earnest and a vaguely worded agreement allows both sides to move on. Unfortunately, this will not happen.

Trump has declared that all enriched nuclear material must be given up. The strait of Hormuz must either be open to all or become an American strait (depending on the day). There is no longer talk of not funding proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah or the Houthis. An agreement on uranium enrichment (similar to that negotiated by the Obama administration and rejected by the first Trump administration) is a nonstarter. So, what happens next?

Clearly Trump’s bluster will not carry the day and the extreme government of Iran, which is indifferent to the suffering and death of their people, is in no hurry to reach a conclusion. This, in all likelihood, can only end the way American involvement in Vietnam ended over 50 years ago. Congress will deny funding after a certain date. It will require a Democratic win in November, as well as several spinal transplants among Republicans.

This intervention was clearly a mistake. The only other answer is to use the advice offered by former Senator George Aiken about the Vietnam war in the 60’s when he suggested, “let’s declare ourselves the winners and leave.” 

It has a certain Trumpian ring to it, don’t you think?