Ben Rhodes on Iran: ‘Strategically, the United States Has Already Lost’

EXCERPT:

RHODES: “And Trump couldn’t even get something approximating the JCPOA when he was trying to do that with this MOU, in part because the Iranians didn’t trust him, because he’s been bombed — they’ve been bombed multiple times when they’ve been engaged in negotiations. Trump wants the appearance of a military victory that he’s not going to get, because the reality is, strategically, the United States has already lost. The Iranian regime is in place. They’ve demonstrated their capacity to shut the Strait of Hormuz. And the nuclear fuel that they have is not something you can bomb from the air. So, as General Hertling said, if you actually want to go in and, bolt by bolt, dismantle that program and seize that fuel, you’re going to need a massive military force. And I don’t think Americans are ready to sign up for it.”