Morning Joe Richard Haass: I don’t see signs that anyone at the White House thought this through
Mar 11, 2026
Jake Sullivan, former U.S. National Security Advisor and current foreign policy commentator, weighs in on strategic and diplomatic options on Iran. He critiques unclear objectives and planning. He discusses military limits, risks of escalation, how the conflict shapes Ukraine and drone proliferation, and the role of diplomacy and sanctions sequencing.
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Ukraine Emerges As Drone Tech Hub
- The conflict has accelerated interest in Ukrainian drone technology as global demand for cheap, effective systems rises.
- Joe Scarborough notes Ukraine's drone innovations are attracting international attention and potential defense-industry partnerships.
Iran Wins By Not Losing
- Richard Haass compares Iran's resilience to the Viet Cong tactic of winning by not losing, making prolonged conflict favorable to Iran.
- He questions U.S. capacity to endure extended economic and military pain across multiple theaters.
White House Lacked Strategic Foresight
- The administration did not think through second and third order consequences before launching action against Iran.
- Richard Haass argues Iran can outlast the U.S. in a war of attrition and U.S. energy and deployment vulnerabilities make long conflict costly.