Here & Now Anytime What does the U.S. want from war with Iran?
8 snips
Mar 2, 2026 
Shirin Nariman, Iranian-American human rights activist and former political prisoner, shares diaspora views and organized resistance inside Iran. Mark Hertling, retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, explains military limits of air campaigns and occupation challenges. Jim Walsh, MIT security analyst, analyzes U.S. objectives, timelines, and conflicting messages about goals in Iran.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Conflicting U.S. Objectives Create Strategic Confusion
- The U.S. has not clearly stated objectives, shifting from regime change to narrower targets within days.
- Jim Walsh notes killing the leader contradicts later softening and makes Iranians see this as regime-survival, not limited strikes.
Stated Military Goals Don't Match Iran's Reality
- Stated goals (destroy missiles, annihilate navy, prevent nuclear capability) are unrealistic and likely to change.
- Jim Walsh calls the naval objective "hilarious" because Iran never was a naval power, highlighting mismatch.
Airstrikes Rarely Produce Political Change
- Air campaigns can destroy hardware but seldom create desired political outcomes like democracy.
- Mark Hertling warns strikes often strengthen hardliners and empower extremists who claim the nation is under siege.