[brookst]

Hard to see that as an indictment of military capability when it is so overwhelmingly a reflection of political incompetence.

[dh2022]

Hmmm, the US is not able to control the Hormuz strait. Iran decides who goes through it. Yesterday Iran shot at a vessel [0]. We can argue the semantics of “control” but I think this whole debacle showed the limits of US military power.

[0] https://www.npr.org/2026/06/26/nx-s1-5871963/un-agency-pause...

[WarmWash]

There is a difference between military might and political will.

Going all out on Iran would free up the straight, but also be political suicide for the right.

[brookst]

Do you really think the US military was given orders to control the strait, and couldn’t?

It showed limits for sure. But the limits were bluster without the will to follow through (and accept the consequences).

It’s a political and diplomatic catastrophe for an empire in decline. But if control of the strait had been an actual priority, it would have been very achievable. That was never the goal though. The goal was to look stupid on TV, for some reason.

[dh2022]

Re: “Do you really think the US military was given orders to control the strait, snd couldn’t?”

Pretty much. I think US military was given the order to make Trump look good, and they couldn’t (Trump looks weak now, which he completely hates)

[brookst]

“Make Trump look good” and “control the strait using whatever means necessary” are not compatible.

I agree they can’t make him look good. And I guess we’re agreeing the mission was not actually to control the strait in as a critical military objective .