School of War Has America Fought Well in the Iran War? With Mick Ryan
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Apr 21, 2026 
Mick Ryan, retired Australian Major General and military studies fellow, offers sharp analysis on the Iran war and its wider implications. He examines U.S. performance, alliance choices, and battlefield adaptations. He discusses the strategic risks to the Strait of Hormuz, the role of AI in warfare, and what rivals like China and Russia are learning. He maps possible paths forward and geopolitical consequences.
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Clear U.S. Aims But Weak Allied Buy-In
- The U.S. established clear political objectives against Iran but underinvested in alliance-building to sell the campaign.
- Mick Ryan notes the Trump administration relied heavily on Israel and avoided the harder diplomatic work with NATO, e.g., Spain obstructing operations.
Hormuz Closure Was Predictable But Unplanned For
- The Strait of Hormuz closure was the most foreseeable Iranian response but U.S. preparedness lagged.
- Ryan highlights obvious lapses like sailing minesweepers out of the Gulf before the war and being surprised by Shahed-style drone attacks.
Failure To Learn From Ukraine On Drone Threats
- Western militaries failed to absorb Ukraine lessons on cheap drone swarms and interceptors.
- Ryan calls surprise at Shahed-type attacks 'unforgivable' and laments reliance on legacy Patriot tactics instead of modern interceptors.
