The latest round in Trump's and Netanyahu's Iran War

This is an interview with John Mearsheimer and Joshua Landis discussing the current state of the Iran War; (1)

Mearsheimer says near the end, "it can't be a long war, but it can be a long war." As enigmatic as that sounds, it's his way of saying that it would be a disaster to the US and much of the world if it does go on as a long, active war. But the US has made bad mistakes before, i.e., the Iran War.

Joshua Landis warns about the implications of Israel's "mowing the lawn" strategy in which it periodically attacks the Gaza Strip and various neighbors: Iran, Syria, and Lebannon. They also discuss the potential for Israel to go to war with Türkiye. The combination of reflexive support by the US for Israel and the increasing militarization of Israeli politics and society brought us to this point. And it's hard to see how Trump will back out of it.

As the old saying goes, it's a hell of a lot easier to get into a war than to get out of one.

And when foreign policy is being run by a malicious clown-show of a regime like Trump's, it becomes even harder.

Notes:

(1) Will Trump’s Naval Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Work? - John Mearsheimer and Joshua Landis. Switzerland with Tom Switzer YouTube channel 04/12/2026. <https://youtu.be/fIhG1t-Uvac?si=n9Ohd3zdEaQKti4M> (Accessed: 2026-13-04).