Why Trump Might Send Ground Troops to Iran

About this episode

Tommy and Ben discuss the complexities of the U.S. military's involvement in Iran and the implications of sending ground troops.

Tommy and Ben unpack the latest twists in Donald Trump’s chaotic regime-change war with Iran, which eleven days in is still plagued by shifting goals, contradictory messaging, and rising regional consequences. They break down the White House’s confusing claims of victory despite unresolved threats—from the hundreds of pounds of highly enriched uranium still loose inside Iran to signs that Tehran may be mining the Strait of Hormuz. The guys discuss the war’s mounting casualties, environmental devastation from Israeli strikes on Iranian fuel depots, and the dangerous escalation of attacks on desalination plants across the Gulf. They also dig into what we know about Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, explain why sending troops into Iran to secure its nuclear materials—or seize the oil hub of Kharg Island—would be a massive and risky military mission, and why Democrats in Congress must refuse to authorize more funding for the war. Plus: Israel’s widening war in Lebanon, the U.S. military’s new role in Ecuador’s fight against drug cartels, and the election of a GenZ rapper-turned-politician in Nepal. Then Tommy speaks to Michael C. Horowitz, Senior Fellow for Tech &amp…

People in this episode

Hosts: Tommy, Ben

Guest: Michael C. Horowitz

Topics covered

• U.S. foreign policy
• Iran conflict
• military strategy
• political analysis
• regional security
• AI in military

Keywords

• Trump
• Iran
• military
• nuclear materials
• regional consequences
• casualties
• AI
• Pentagon
• war funding

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Council on Foreign Relations

Places: Iran, Israel, Ecuador, Lebanon, Nepal, Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island

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