Fallout
Trump lied. Iran’s nuclear program wasn’t “completely and totally obliterated” So now what?
1. True Lies
As of this morning we have credible reports that the president and secretary of defense lied to the American people over the weekend. The Iranian nuclear program was neither “completely and totally obliterated” or dealt a “final blow” by the American strike.
Instead, the mission seems to have been a tactical success with limited strategic value.
“Limited” does not mean “no strategic value.” If it turns out that Operation Midnight Hammer set the Iranian nuclear program back by a year or three and there is no significant blowback, then it will still be a success.
But that’s not the only possible outcome. So let’s walk through some of the other, less nice, possibilities.
Join Bulwark+ to unlock the rest
Become a paying member of The Bulwark to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content. A subscription gets you:
- Unlimited access to articles and newsletters including The Triad by JVL and Receipts by Catherine Rampell.
- Ad-free editions of our shows (with transcripts) and member-only shows like The Secret Podcast.
- Plus community chats and commenting features. Your support helps keep our work sustainable and available to those who cannot afford a membership. Cancel anytime.