A Three-Front War with Iran and the Uncertain Future of American Foreign Policy

A combative president has abruptly become a wartime president following a series of deadly military strikes against Iran. These actions, involving bunker-bomb sorties and Tomahawk missile attacks, have initiated a complex three-front conflict. This includes a direct involvement in a volatile Middle East war, a new source of division within his own political coalition, and a challenge from skeptical Democrats on Capitol Hill who question the constitutionality of these actions.

These are dangerous gambles. There is no certainty that the American attacks on Iranian nuclear production sites have achieved their intended goals or have significantly hindered Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether the president's loyal base will fully support this move, given their previous stance against foreign intervention.

The president ordered the attacks against Iran, a country that many presidents have wanted to confront since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The military actions were specifically designed with the goal of targeting Iran's nuclear capabilities.

the president, who values control, has lost control of numerous geopolitical and domestic factors that have suddenly become unpredictable. He must now prepare for unpredictability from multiple directions.

The president attempted to strike a balance in his public statements, but he is aware of the potential for Iranian retaliation, the possibility of a wider war, and the chance that the attacks may not have been as effective as claimed. There is also the risk that Iran may possess hidden uranium-enrichment sites.

The president's most loyal political supporters are now assessing the new national-security environment, which includes warnings that further, more severe operations could follow, potentially escalating American involvement in the war.

There remains the possibility that the president will have pushed the Iranians to the bargaining table, which he has stated he desires. However, there is also the risk that this episode will strengthen the resolve of Iran's leadership to pursue nuclear weapons.

The president's decision is another expansion of executive power, potentially violating the War Powers Act and constitutional restrictions on warmaking. This places him in the company of every president since 1973.

The president expressed his frustration with Iran, stating that he had reached a breaking point. He described Iran as a bully and stated that he would take action to address their behavior.