Defense expert: 'The stupidity of the war has become impossible to ignore'

U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event to honor Angel Families at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 23, 2026. REUTERS

Former U.S. Army major and former executive officer of the Defense Intelligence Agency Harrison Mann made it clear that President Donald Trump's war against Iran has become so stupid that even Republicans are backing away.

It was reported on Wednesday that Trump had reached an agreement a month ago but didn't like it being compared to the previous Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), negotiated, in part, by President Barack Obama's administration.

Mann explained that the "so-called sticking point was a demand from before the war ... When Trump did the surprise attack with Israel in February, what the U.S. and Iran were discussing was some kind of sanctions relief, which would be a de facto release of funds in exchange for a freeze on Iran's nuclear enrichment. And so I think it's, in my mind, a little misleading to say that this thing that we've known has always been an Iranian demand is a sticking point. I think really the principal sticking point remains Trump's lack of interest in pushing for it."

Indeed, for the past several weeks, reports have revealed that Trump is growing "bored" with the Iran War.

Mann fears that Trump is alone in believing the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is working and sustainable in the long term.

"The Iranians don't believe either. I think they're pretty confident in their ability to withstand, you know, some loss of oil sales. And they really don't like the status quo," he said. "It seems like Trump kind of thinks he basically ended the war and, you know, occasional tit-for-tat strikes can go on really forever. The Iranians don't want that. They think they've got an advantage and they want to press it."

Also on Wednesday, four GOP members of the House of Representatives voted to block further Iran War, delivering enough votes for the Democrats to reassert congressional authority over the president.

Mann thinks that this bill passed as a result of two major reasons.

"One, the costs of the war, and the ... stupidity of the war have become impossible to ignore," he said. "We're three months in. You can't pretend Trump's got a plan. You can't ignore the very visible and tangible economic effects."

It isn't merely the gas prices, it's also the cost of fertilizer that has dramatically increased, all of which is putting pressure on American farmers.

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