I don't think Max Boot is a Brit; this article just happened to appear in the Manchester Union Leader. Max is actually a well-regarded reporter, and frequently writes for the op-ed page of the WSJ. In this article, I think what he's really saying is that better intelligence would have led to less loss of life. Or had we had better intelligence, we could have carpet bombed Iwo before taking it.
You could have carpet bombed that rock from Hell to breakfast, and it would not have made a difference. Those positions were dug into the solid rock. The Japanese were not going to be dislodged. The most bombing could do was reduce their numbers somewhat. And more bombing would have just meant more craters and more defensive positions for the enemy.
BTW, Iwo Jima is 650 miles from Tokyo, not 750, and was well within range of fighter cover from that island, particularly with the P-38s, which had a 3,000 mile range.
' I think what he's really saying is that better intelligence would have led to less loss of life.'
Only if we hadn't invaded.
'Or had we had better intelligence, we could have carpet bombed Iwo before taking it.'
Carpet bombing of rocks is ineffective.