Trump’s War to the Last Missile

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is dead, if it ever existed, and Washington’s war to compel Iran’s submission to Israeli demands with air and missile power alone continues without resolution. The war is restarting and Iran remains defiant, its military power is unyielding, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. War in the Middle East is fast becoming a “war to the last missile.” Since air power über alles has failed will ground forces change the game?

President Trump is stuck. In trying to avert a potential future nuclear threat against Israel, Trump has committed the American People to a costly war he cannot break off. Netanyahu insists the war cannot end unless Iran commits to nuclear disarmament under intrusive US supervision. However, while Iran’s alleged program to develop a nuclear weapon keeps the war going, nukes have taken a backseat to the more immediate strategic conundrum: wresting control of the Strait of Hormuz away from Iran. Can it be done?

Striking the usual target sets including air defense systems, radar stations, ballistic missile sites and transportation infrastructure is unlikely to reverse Iranian control of the Strait. In response, Tehran methodically wipes out what remains of US Military (USM) bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. Retired Marine Four-Star Frank McKenzie seems to think he has the answer—ground forces.

The former commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) who orchestrated the disastrous withdrawal from Kabul, Afghanistan, is urging President Trump to use ground forces to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s premier oil export terminal with the capacity to load 10 supertankers or 7 million barrels of oil per day. Remember, McKenzie’s withdrawal preceded the rapid collapse of US trained and equipped Afghan Forces and an Islamic State (ISIS-K) suicide bombing on August 26, 2021, which killed 13 U.S. Marines.

In McKenzie’s view ground forces are the obvious next step:

McKenzie’s statement may explain why President Trump is reportedly reconsidering operations to seize Kharg Island. The key question is what the Paratroopers or Marines would do on the island, assuming they can reach it without being wiped out enroute?