Americans don’t need convincing that the Iranian regime is a menace. They need convincing that what President Trump is doing makes sense. Last night’s speech didn’t make that case effectively:

The administration’s most frequently stated objective, and the one Trump emphasized in the speech, was degrading Iran’s military capabilities. The White House offers no criteria for assessing when that objective has been sufficiently met. Trump could have used his speech to announce that he is ending Operation Epic Fury: He said, after all, that Iran is “no longer a threat.” He could announce it tomorrow; he could have announced it on several yesterdays.

The administration’s most frequently stated objective, and the one Trump emphasized in the speech, was degrading Iran’s military capabilities. The White House offers no criteria for assessing when that objective has been sufficiently met. Trump could have used his speech to announce that he is ending Operation Epic Fury: He said, after all, that Iran is “no longer a threat.” He could announce it tomorrow; he could have announced it on several yesterdays.

Judging by any objective other than hurting Iran’s military, though, stopping now would hardly count as a successful conclusion to the war. . . .

Judging by any objective other than hurting Iran’s military, though, stopping now would hardly count as a successful conclusion to the war. . . .

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