By Gloria Ogbonna
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy has raised serious concerns about the direction of the United States’ military involvement with Iran, warning that the conflict could evolve into a prolonged and costly war. During an appearance on All In on MSNBC, Murphy argued that President Donald Trump is not being fully transparent with the American public about what the military strategy could mean in the long run.
Murphy said that while airstrikes can significantly weaken parts of Iran’s military infrastructure, they are unlikely to completely eliminate the country’s nuclear capabilities.
According to the senator, Iran has spent years building and protecting key parts of its nuclear program by placing facilities deep underground, beyond the reach of most conventional aerial weapons and missile systems. Because of this, he believes that relying on air power alone would not be enough to dismantle the program entirely.
The senator explained that military operations limited to air campaigns can only degrade a country’s capabilities temporarily. Over time, he said, Iran could rebuild critical systems such as drone production facilities and missile technology.
If that happens, the United States would likely need to conduct repeated strikes to stop those capabilities from reemerging. In Murphy’s view, this type of strategy could lead to an ongoing cycle of attacks rather than a quick or decisive end to the conflict.
Murphy suggested that recent reports indicating the war could last much longer than initially expected are likely accurate. Instead of a short-term military operation lasting weeks or months, he warned that the conflict could stretch across the better part of a year—or even longer—if the U.S. continues targeting Iran’s military infrastructure without pursuing broader political changes.
He also raised concerns about the possible outcomes inside Iran itself. Murphy noted that if the current leadership were destabilized without a clear plan for what comes next, it could result in an even more hardline and aggressive government taking control.
In that scenario, the United States might find itself forced to maintain continuous military pressure simply to keep Iran’s weapons programs from rebuilding.
According to Murphy, such a strategy could require near-constant aerial operations—essentially a year-round bombing campaign aimed at destroying newly rebuilt facilities whenever they appear.
He warned that maintaining that level of military engagement would come with enormous costs, both financially and in terms of American lives.
The senator estimated that a sustained campaign of that scale could ultimately cost the United States hundreds of billions, or even as much as a trillion dollars over time. In addition to the economic burden, he cautioned that prolonged military involvement would increase the risk to American troops and personnel operating in the region.
Murphy concluded by saying that the American public deserves greater honesty about the potential scope and duration of the conflict. In his view, leaders in Washington should openly acknowledge that the situation could turn into a long and active war rather than suggesting that it will be a short or limited operation.
Source Breitbart
Original article
Comments