For our debt-ridden nation, the Iranian war is costing more than $1 billion a day. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth prays for “overwhelming violence” while most Americans oppose the war. Congress has ceded broad authority to the president by twice refusing to invoke the War Powers Act. The president proposes spending $150 trillion next year for the military while cutting health care and most civilian agencies.

Retired generals Stanley McCrystal and David Petraeus both warn that this regional war will be “messy,” “expensive” and can’t be won without ground troops, all while failing to open the Strait of Hormuz in the foreseeable future. 

Eventually we will be forced to leave Iran just as we left Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. In each, the longer the war persisted, the greater eventual cost of withdrawal — financially, strategically, culturally and politically.

Iran is quickly adapting, supported by Russia (drones, intelligence, etc.). Tehran can fight indefinitely. It is already allowing only selected vessels to transit the Strait (extracting multimillion-dollar “tolls” per ship), thus creating both significant political leverage and revenue.

 An exit strategy? Leave now. 

True, allies will be further angered and adversaries emboldened. Energy, fertilizer and commodity prices will continue to rise, further feeding inflation, possibly even stagflation (according to Paul Krugman). Iran may pursue nuclear capability. Removing Iran’s dispersed processed uranium will be unlikely. 

This is a call for discipline and fortitude by our government. Exiting now requires acknowledging a hard truth: there is no path to victory that justifies its financial, cultural and political costs.

Bruce MacDougal
Harpswell