They Didn’t Think There Would Be A War

The Bulwark’s Andrew Eggar makes a good point.

What did the White House think it was getting into in Iran? A strike against Iran’s oppressive and fanatical regime, sure. A display of America’s awesome military might, definitely. But it’s become increasingly, painfully clear: They didn’t think there was going to be a war.

The Trump administration developed no real theory of the objectives of the Iran war, because they didn’t think there was going to be a war. ..

The Trump administration made no effort to get the American people on board with war, because they didn’t think there was going to be a war…

They didn’t think there was going to be a war, and so the White House seemingly gave no thought to what the economic ramifications of war would be…

They didn’t think there was going to be a war, and so the president assumed he’d be in charge of picking Iran’s next political leadership…”

They didn’t think there was going to be a war. But now they’ve got one, and they don’t have the faintest idea how to end it.

Looks like he’s getting bored and just wants to declare victory:

NEW—In a phone interview, President Trump told me the war could be over soon: “I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no Air Force.” He added that the U.S. is “very far” ahead of his initial 4-5 week estimated time frame.

— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) March 9, 2026

As for the Straight of Hormuz, Trump noted that ships are moving through now, but he is “thinking about taking it over.”

Trump warned Iran, “They’ve shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute or it’s going to be the end of that country.”

— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) March 9, 2026

Well ok then. I’m sure everything’s going to turn out just fine.

They obviously still do not have a plan and Trump is trying to dance on the head of a pin, hoping against hope that everything will turn out ok like it has his whole life.