Free Republic

Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized ABC News host George Stephanopoulos for continuing to push the narrative that Operation Epic Fury lacks clear objectives, as the administration works to maintain public support for the war. As rumors of “unclear objectives” spread, concerns have grown that the conflict with Iran could mirror Iraq or Afghanistan, prolonged wars marked by years of fighting, heavy casualties, and the deployment of ground troops without a decisive endgame. "This operation, okay, and that's what this is. It's about very specific objectives. The president laid them out on the first night of the operation," Rubio said....

U.S. President Donald Trump told aides he’s willing to end the military campaign against Iran while leaving the Strait of Hormuz largely closed, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday evening. Trump and his aides assessed that a mission to reopen Hormuz would push the conflict beyond his timeline of four to six weeks, the WSJ reported, citing administration officials. Trump decided that the U.S. would wind down current hostilities with Iran after achieving its main goals of hobbling Iran’s navy and missile stocks. Washington will then pressure Tehran diplomatically to reopen the strait, failing which, it will press allies...