Brooks and Capehart on the cost of the Iran war and Trump's strategy

David Brooks argues that the costs of the Iran war have become 'exorbitant,' far outweighing any benefits. He points to Russia and Iran gaining revenue, the European and world economies facing crisis, and NATO being 'in shreds.' Brooks frames the president's optimistic rhetoric as a 'huckster' approach that fails to acknowledge the grim realities of war and Iran's long-term preparedness.

Brooks states, 'this is clearly the week when the cost of the war are so exponentially larger than the benefits... The cost to Russia is now getting all this revenue Iran is getting all this revenue. The European economy and the world economies are in crisis. NATO is in shreds.'

Both Brooks and Capehart criticize President Trump's lack of a clear, defined aim for the Iran war. Capehart notes the president's address was 'a month too late and told us nothing we had not already heard,' failing to explain 'why we went, how we're getting out.' Brooks highlights the confusion caused by contradictory statements, making it difficult for the public and military personnel to understand the war's objectives.

Capehart states, 'What he should have done was told the American people really why we went, how we're getting out.' Brooks adds, 'when it shifts every day, you're not just confusing the Iranians. Can you imagine fighting in this war, and where you don't know what the president wants you to do or what the goal here is.'

David Brooks identifies a 'basic loss of basic economic knowledge' within the Trump administration. He cites the president's belief that the US is unaffected by oil prices in the Straits of Hormuz because it doesn't use that oil, failing to grasp that 'global energy markets are global markets.' Brooks also debunks the fantasy of restoring manufacturing jobs through tariffs, noting a long-term global trend of manufacturing job losses.

Brooks explains, 'what he does not seem to understand is that global energy markets are global markets. We have one global economy and it raises prices here just as it does everywhere else around the world.' He also mentions, 'We've lost 100,000 [manufacturing jobs]. Joe Biden tried to create manufacturing jobs. I think one year Joe Biden lost 200,000.'

The firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi is interpreted by David Brooks as a move by Trump to further politicize the Justice Department. Brooks suggests Bondi was ineffective at 'doing the illegal things that she tried to do on behalf of Donald Trump,' and that Trump seeks a replacement who will 'go farther' in prosecuting political enemies. Jonathan Capehart speculates on potential successors, including Todd Blanche, who he describes as 'wholly owned by Donald Trump.'

Brooks states, 'The Bondi fire, one has the sense he believes the Justice Department and the lawfare, the prosecuting political enemies didn't go far enough. So one assumes that he's going to pick somebody who will go farther.' Capehart adds, 'My money is on Deputy Attorney General, now acting acting Attorney General Todd Blanche... someone who is a wholly owned person.'