America’s Big Mistake in Iran
This article analyzes the failure of the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran, arguing that reliance on aerial bombing as a sole strategy is a recurring historical mistake. It traces this flawed doctrine back to early 20th-century military theorists who believed airpower could force capitulation without ground intervention.
Why it matters
It challenges long-standing military doctrines regarding the efficacy of strategic bombing in modern geopolitical conflicts.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Pictures From History / Getty. June 23, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save When the United States and Israel launched the war on Iran in February, their plan was simple: bomb Iran until either the Iranian public rose up and overthrew the government, or the existing government capitulated to American demands. It rapidly became apparent that neither was going to happen. The Iranian people didn’t revolt against their oppressors. The Iranian government hunkered down, closed the strait, and gambled that the U.S. would be unwilling to invade or strike at crucial infrastructure.
The article provides a historical critique of military strategy without explicitly endorsing a specific political party or ideology.
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