The Rachman Review Trump finds it’s easier to start a war than to end one
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Apr 22, 2026 
Dana Stroul, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East and regional military strategist. Michael Singh, former White House Iran policy lead and Middle East diplomat. They debate why the Iran conflict is so hard to end. They explore US military options, the costs of blockades and escorts, the Strait of Hormuz, regional mediation and the diplomatic limits at the UN.
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Wars Become Endless Because Of Secondary Effects
- Entering a war often seems straightforward but creates hard secondary problems that prolong conflict.
- Michael Singh compares this Iran war to Iraq and Afghanistan where initial objectives succeeded quickly but insurgency and secondary effects made them endless.
Military Lawyers Shape Targeting And Limit Options
- The U.S. military includes legal advice in targeting decisions and struggles to translate shifting political aims into lawful, actionable objectives.
- Dana Stroul notes military lawyers weigh in and commanders must reconcile amorphous presidential goals with the law of armed conflict.
Don't Make Incredible Hyperbolic Military Threats
- Avoid making hyperbolic threats that are not legally or militarily credible because they can weaken negotiating leverage.
- Singh warns that threats to destroy civilian infrastructure risk isolating the U.S. and invite Iran to test whether the president will follow through.