Mission Almost Accomplished: The Dangerous Myth of the Short War

Send us Fan MailTwelve days into a war with Iran, Washington is already signaling that the mission is “almost complete.”History suggests we’ve heard that before.From Vietnam to Iraq to Libya, American military interventions have repeatedly been sold to the public as short, limited conflicts that would stabilize a region quickly. Yet again and again those wars expanded, escalated, and lasted far longer than anyone predicted.In this episode of Partisan Games, we examine the political pattern behind the promise of the “short war.”Why do governments keep selling conflicts as quick victories?What happens when political timelines collide with military reality?And why a war involving Iran — a country of more than eighty million people sitting next to the Strait of Hormuz — could reshape global energy markets, regional stability, and international politics.Because when leaders start saying the war is almost over…history suggests it may just be getting started.Follow Us on Facebook