The DSR Network Why is this Trump War Different From All Other Trump Wars?
Mar 18, 2026
Rosa Brooks, Georgetown law professor and national security commentator. Ed Luce, FT columnist on geopolitics and transatlantic ties. David Sanger, NYT national security reporter and author. They debate Trump’s Iran campaign, allied fallout, intelligence and nuclear risks. They weigh regional instability, economic shockwaves, and whether political optics will drive strategy.
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Iran Has A Vote In How The War Unfolds
- Trump underestimated how wars lateralize and that Iran 'gets a vote' on when the conflict ends.
- Ed Luce describes Trump's panic after calls with allies and realization that military action doesn't control political outcomes.
No Coalition Because Trump Skipped The Build
- Trump expected allies to join a Hormuz patrol but lacked prewar coalition building, so few signed up after the fact.
- David Sanger contrasts this with George W. Bush's months-long coalition-building before Iraq.
Operational Success, Strategic Failure
- Operationally the U.S. strikes often hit intended targets, but strategically the campaign is a catastrophe that worsens regional instability and alienates allies.
- Rosa Brooks highlights civilian casualties (girls' school) and the disconnect between military execution and political goals.