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ConflictsUnited States of America

Iran war shows swings in US military competency

Melissa Chan
April 16, 2026

The US military has pulled off elite missions in Venezuela and Iran. At the same time, Donald Trump and the White House has not defined a clear Iran war strategy. What explains these swings in US military competency?

https://p.dw.com/p/5CGGA

The United States can execute elite military missions, whether it's capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro or extracting a US fighter pilot in mountainous Iranian territory. Yet when it comes to the Iran war, the Trump administration seems at odds with its leading generals when defining a clear strategy.

Analyst Kori Schake explains how highly professional US armed forces deliver complex operations while shifting political goals from the White House create confusion.

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