No. It cannot be sustained without the support of the American people, as Trump is scared to death of losing the midterms, which would render him doubly impotent. He's already looking for an off ramp and no doubt he will declare victory regardless of the outcome. And he will be considered a laughing stock around the world, only this time a very dangerous and a very foolish one. Fewer Americans than ever share Israel's aims. On the eve of the launch of the current military operation in Iran, a Gallup poll found that more Americans now sympathise with the Palestinians than with the Israelis. According to the survey, 41% of respondents express greater sympathy for the Palestinians, compared with the 36% who side with the Israelis. This is the first major military conflict in which an American administration lacks majority public support. Only 41% of the US public supports this war, according to an analysis of various polls by The New York Times. Even the Iraq war of 2003, during which the public was misled by the George W Bush administration into believing that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, had the backing of 76% Americans. Trump had hoped that he would replicate his Venezuela plan. But Iran's response has deflated his enthusiasm and exposed gaps in US planning and strategy. Iran's Islamic regime had been planning for this war scenario for more than 20 years. After last year's Israeli and US military attacks, Ali Khamenei had developed a strategy that would allow field commanders to mount a military response even after his death and the collapse of a central command structure. Iran's plan, which it has implemented from day one of the war, is to take the conflict to the enemy, escalate and impose economic costs on it. The US military is now admitting that it underestimated Iran. As part of its political strategy, Iran has widened the conflict beyond its own territory and Israel to more than a dozen Gulf states, threatening their stability. Gulf states can't attack Iran in retaliation because their public will see that as taking Israel's side and its backer, the United States, against a fellow Muslim nation and a victim of aggression. The cost of war in Iran was more than $11.3 billion in just six days, according to the Pentagon. Petrol prices in the US have shot up to their highest level in three years. Stock markets across the world are falling. Economists are already warning of high inflation and even recession if the war continues. Trump now appears to be looking for an exit strategy. On Monday, he sought to calm markets by saying that the US military was "very far ahead of schedule" and the war could end soon. But Tehran has declared that it will decide when to end the war. Even the Israeli military believes that Iran still has at least a quarter of its ballistic missiles left. Out of its force comprising 400,000 regular army personnel and 125,000 Republic Guards Corps, only a few thousand might have died, according to Israeli estimates. Iran's strategy appears to have put Trump and, to some extent, Netanyahu in a bind. They obviously did not plan for Iran's reaction to their air raids. In the manner Iran has escalated the conflict, the two leaders might find themselves in a war that could prove to be another Vietnam. Netanyahu may not mind that, as a prolonged conflict could suit his political plan. But for the US, it will be a disaster. Once again, Trump's impulsive decision has been proven wrong by the realities on the ground. Netanyahu, on the other hand, has achieved what he wanted, using Trump to fulfil his political strategy. But as the war escalates on Iran's terms, Israel will also lose. Its isolation will grow, the economy will be in more turmoil, and the Israeli public will feel more insecure. Iran-Israel War: Is Trump Starting To Regret Backing Netanyahu This Far? https://share.google/IOm6A8rQw78OlDxBG
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