Bobby Ghosh, Columnist

Trump Doesn't Need to Attack Iran: He’s Winning Already

The president should hold fire. A military strike would damage America’s interests and play right into Ali Khamenei’s hands.

June 21, 2019 at 11:15 AM UTC

By Bobby Ghosh

Bobby Ghosh is a senior editor in the digital weekend team. Previously, he was a columnist at Bloomberg Opinion, where he wrote mostly about international affairs and culture.

Military options?
Photographer: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP

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What we’re seeing unfold in the Persian Gulf is a confrontation between a U.S. president who doesn’t know when he’s winning, and a Supreme Leader who doesn’t know when he’s losing. If Donald Trump changes his mind again and orders an attack on Iranian targets, he will have played into Ali Khamenei’s hands.

It’s too early to exhale after Trump’s decision to cancel a military strike last night. If he could order the jets scrambled once – without giving Congress or American allies much time to consult and advise – he can do so again. The next time, he may not call it off.