CounterPunch Exclusives

CounterPunch Exclusives

A Lost War, a Bad Agreement and a Possible Good Outcome 

One thing is certain. The U.S. lost its war of choice against Iran. Trump and Netanyahu failed to eliminate the perceived Iranian nuclear threat, despite relentless bombing that killed thousands and destroyed both military assets and civilian infrastructure. The desired “regime change” left a more hawkish leader in charge. Iranian forces then deployed missiles and drones to carry out devastating attacks on American bases in the Gulf. Thirteen U.S. soldiers lost their lives. Most significantly, Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz sparked global panic in energy, fertilizer, and other vital markets. For Americans, the war meant a dollar a-gallon increase at the gas pump. For Trump, ending the war became a political imperative.

The June 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has drawn sharp criticism, even from some right-wing members of Congress. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy described the agreement as the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades.” Others opined that its sanctions relief could allow a weakened Iran to rebuild its military; or they faulted the MOU for not banning Iran from extending its control over an international waterway. Yet the critics don’t say what they probably know: that a lost war rarely gives the losing party a good deal.

If the just-signed MOU maintains the 60-day ceasefire and becomes a full-fledged agreement,........

© CounterPunch