The DSR Network Searching for an Offramp to a Reckless, Irresponsible War
Mar 25, 2026
Ed Luce, Financial Times columnist known for geopolitics and global economics, offers sharp analysis. Rosa Brooks, Georgetown law professor and national security expert, critiques military policy. They debate whether a viable off-ramp from the Iran conflict exists. They discuss escalation cycles, Iran’s leverage via the Strait of Hormuz, political limits of firepower, and why negotiated face-saving exits look unlikely.
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Predictable Escalation Dialectic
- The conflict cycles through escalation and de-escalation with increasing intensity as threats are repeatedly unfulfilled.
- Ed Luce argues Trump will have to escalate each time because initial threats (like troop movements) are mainly bluffs that Iran will not concede to.
Strait Control Is The Core Leverage
- Trump's single war aim is to restore pre-conflict freedom of the Strait of Hormuz and protect global energy markets.
- Ed Luce says Iran's leverage is control over the Strait and it will not voluntarily give that up, making Trump's aim the one thing Iran won't accept.
Regional Demand For Ground Troops
- Regional actors like Saudi Arabia and Israel pressure the U.S. to 'finish the job' meaning ground forces for regime change.
- Participants note only American ground troops could plausibly achieve regime change, according to regional leaders.