In a stunning display of disconnect from reality, President Donald Trump has declared that his war against Iran is “very complete” and that the United States is “very far” ahead of schedule. But behind the bluster of White House press briefings, a very different, much darker story is emerging – one of catastrophic financial waste, military incompetence, and a desperate scramble to cover up a humiliating defeat.

As journalist Patricia Marins explained it, the Trump administration and War Secretary Pete Hegseth are attempting to “end the war, allegedly using a series of false information to conceal a defeat in Iran.”

The Price of Imperial Hubris

While working families in Rhode Island and across America struggle with inflation and stagnant wages, the US government has been burning cash in the Middle East at an eye-watering rate. Marins reports that the direct US-Israel spending on this conflict is estimated at “around $70-80 billion.” When you factor in the economic and material losses of Gulf countries dragged into this mess, the figure “easily reaches $100 billion.”

This illegal war, launched without Congressional approval, has become a black hole for taxpayer money. It is “bad for business” on a global scale. The repercussions are already hitting the private sector, with Meta temporarily closing their Tel-Aviv office due to the instability. Furthermore, with the Strait of Hormuz restricted by Iran, the chokehold on global energy transit is tightening. If Iran targets the pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE – crucial arteries currently moving 3-4.5 million barrels per day – Marins warns that “the market situation will worsen even more.”

The Myth of “Mission Accomplished”

Trump recently boasted, “I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no Air Force.”

This claim is dangerously false.

Contrary to the President’s delusions, military experts and reports from the ground indicate that Iran’s military capacity is far from neutralized. “I don’t see the slightest sign of fatigue in Iran yet,” Marins notes. The Iranian military still operates “more than 30 ships, their submarine fleet, and over 300 missile boats, not to mention a large part of their air force.”

It appears evident that Trump and Hegseth grossly underestimated their opponent, ignoring the complexities of asymmetrical warfare. While the US and Israel have exhausted weapon stockpiles – with Arrow interceptor stocks reportedly “running low” – Iran has been playing a long game. They have successfully camouflaged their assets. Reports indicate that US and Israeli bombardment has destroyed only a “tiny fraction” of the Iranian arsenal, specifically just 10 launchers and 6 radars.

Meanwhile, Iran has proven wildly capable of striking back. They have shot down approximately 25 expensive Israeli and US drones, including 11 MQ-9 Reapers.

A Coalition in Collapse

The United States and Israel are now viewed by much of the world not as liberators, but as aggressors inflicting wanton destruction. The war has resulted in more than 2,000 Israelis in hospitals and a “catastrophe” for civilians in Iran. Yet, despite the bloodshed, the stated goals of the Trump administration – regime change and the total obliteration of Iran’s military capabilities – have failed miserably.

The coalition is fracturing. “The US-Israel coalition’s capacity is beginning to fatigue,” Marins reports, citing a reduction of up to 65% in attacks. US tankers have even begun leaving air bases in Saudi Arabia, signaling a potential evacuation or a desperate repositioning of assets.

It seems nobody in the Trump White House learned from the failures of modern warfare. Attacks on Iranian soil have not broken the regime; instead, the war “strengthens Iran’s relationship with its proxies.” This was made painfully clear when Hezbollah intensified bombings against Israel, striking Tel Aviv and a major SATCOM base, demonstrating that the conflict has only made the region more volatile.

The Exit Strategy

The plan in Washington has shifted from “victory” to damage control. The administration is now focused on “how to end the war without it looking like a defeat.” Trump is trying to sell the American public a fantasy where the enemy is destroyed and the troops are coming home victorious.

The reality, however, is a stalemate that has cost tens of billions, destroyed lives, and left the US reputation in tatters. As Marins astutely observes, “It is a war for absolutely nothing.”

The Trump administration started an unprovoked fight they couldn’t finish, and now, as the bills come due and the smoke clears, it is the American people and innocent civilians abroad who are left to pay the price.

Sourced from reporting by Patricia Marins.