Jeff and John have written matched pieces detailing why the Iran war is a "debacle," or if not that, then at least a net negative. Their support for this thesis — the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a fifth of the world's oil supply, the regime's continued defiance despite losing its leaders, and Trump's recent pursuit of negotiations and a cease-fire — is legitimate. However, I'm unconvinced for a few reasons.

First and foremost, let's take a moment to acknowledge just how successful the first month of combat has been. The first weeks were such a triumph that many ...

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