After Benny Morris yesterday, here’s another less-than-rosy view of the Iran conflict, from Shiraz Maher. Yes, Tehran’s influence abroad may be weakened, but the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is simply too powerful – and too ruthless – to be displaced.
His conclusion:
Iran’s escalation trap has ensnared the United States in a labyrinthine web of undesirable choices, luring President Trump into an unwinnable war. In the process, it diminishes America’s global standing by straining its alliances through diplomatic and economic pressures. Whatever course of action President Trump ultimately decides upon – a swift departure or protracted war – the outlook for ordinary Iranians hoping to rid themselves of this extremist experiment are bleak. The historical record suggests the IRGC will emerge intact, in one form or another, and be more defiant, dedicated and demanding than ever before.
Mick Hartley 
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