Robert Kagan: A Total and Complete Shutdown of Trump
Robert Kagan argues that the United States lost the Iran war when Trump failed to retaliate against Tehran. He suggests that Iran is exploiting the situation for financial gain, while Israel's position in the region has weakened significantly. Kagan also claims that the post-World War II American-led order is collapsing under Trump's leadership.
- ▪The United States lost the Iran war in March when Trump did not retaliate against Tehran.
- ▪Iran is focused on extracting money from the U.S. rather than making concessions.
- ▪Israel's influence in the region has diminished, potentially harming its standing in U.S. public opinion.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Playback speed×Share postShare post at current timeShare from 0:000:00/PreviewRobert Kagan: A Total and Complete Shutdown of TrumpTim MillerMay 27, 2026∙ PaidShare The United States lost the Iran war back in March when Trump chickened out and didn’t retaliate against Tehran once it proved it could inflict economic pain on the Gulf states. While much of the mainstream media keeps hyping the negotiations and the ceasefire, Iran is not making concessions and is focused on shaking Trump down for money. But the biggest loser in this debacle may be Israel, which turned itself from a dominant power in the region to a losing power. And Israel, which the administration is likely to turn against, could be irreparably damaged in U.S. public opinion as well.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Bulwark.
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