I think that criticism legitimately undersells Total War players (and thereby oversells the administrations competence).

Total War involves an understanding and exploitation of high ground, rivers, and choke points. Like just about any war gamer, with a glance at the map of Iran one arrives at The Pentagons stated wisdom on the matter for decades. Geography says you invade all of it, or cede the straight.

We have this issue many paces in the world and people just don’t get it. North Korean nukes are a threat, but the unstoppable artillery barrage that would kill tens of millions in the first minutes of the war is The Issue. You can’t have snipers on a mountain ridge over your house and feel safe.

Dick Cheney and the Bush family spelled it out over and over. They like money and oil.

Don't forget prior saber rattling about Panama. Cuba is still actively on deck.

And here I thought that they acted more like Tropico players.

Hegseth?

They're obsessed with what real white men did the in past centuries, ie old style imperialism, not the current US state of imperialism.