Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words Victor Davis Hanson: A US Ground War With Iran Would Be Costly and Likely Unnecessary
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Mar 10, 2026 
Victor Davis Hanson, historian and Hoover Institution fellow, offers sharp commentary on military strategy and political theater. He discusses Trump’s ‘boots on the ground’ rhetoric and cautions about costly ground wars. He critiques partisan responses to Iran and explores cultural and civic decline, with praise for resilient, tradition-preserving societies.
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Back Institutions That Defend Free Inquiry
- Support institutions that protect free inquiry and conservative scholarship to counter campus hostility.
- Hanson recommends donating to Hoover Institution and Hillsdale College as bastions that nurture conservative academics and programs.
Three Realistic Outcomes In A Conflict With Iran
- There are three likely strategic outcomes for confronting Iran: regime change, a Venezuela-style replacement, or long-term degradation without regime removal.
- Hanson ranks regime change as ideal but least likely, and prolonged military degradation as a possible unattractive fallback.
Why Ground Troops In Iran Would Be Costly
- Ground troops in Iran would be politically and practically costly given population size and entrenched militias.
- Victor Davis Hanson argues air power plus precision strikes can degrade military infrastructure while avoiding mass civilian harm and occupation.