What would victory in a conflict with Iran mean? Written after the June 2025 American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, this episode asks whether military power can achieve our objectives without a clear understanding of the government we confront. I trace a path from Cyrus and Persian political memory through the 1953 coup, the Shah, and Khomeini's revolution.
The argument concerns the regime's use of religious legitimacy, not an assumption that every Iranian shares its beliefs. I ask how American action can strengthen the very cause it intends to weaken, and why destruction alone cannot define success. My case is for explicit national objectives, disciplined patience, and diplomacy supported by credible strength. Before deciding how to keep fighting, we should decide what outcome serves American interests and whether force can deliver it.
Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2025/06/24/can-we-fight-iran-without-fighting/
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