All the Sad Hawks
Neoconservatives are struggling to reconcile their hopes for Trump with the failure of his Iran war.
TL;DR
- Donald Trump, unlike his neoconservative supporters, quickly understood the reality of the Iran war as a historic defeat.
- Trump is attempting to exit the conflict with a memorandum of understanding that reportedly offers Tehran billions, abandoning demands for unconditional surrender.
- Neoconservative supporters, characterized by their faith in U.S. military power, have been slow to accept the situation, moving through stages of grief.
- Their strategy of using the threat of military force to achieve a better deal with Iran has failed.
- Neocons also misjudged Trump, mistaking his opposition to Obama's deal for ideological alignment rather than personal animosity.
- Trump's foreign policy is personal and transactional, often favoring "strong" dictatorships, while his neoconservative allies are driven by ideological opposition to Iran's regime.
- The administration is attempting to downplay the financial aspects of the current deal compared to past criticisms of Obama's handling of funds.
- Hawks are expressing anger and disbelief, with some suggesting Trump has "chickened out" and brought the U.S. to its knees.