Donald Trump promised Americans something wonderfully simple about foreign policy:

No more stupid wars.

Apparently, the important word was “more or perhaps stupid” as this war is yet another and certainly stupid.

The United States entered the war with Iran in February, and Trump initially explained that Iran was about to attack American forces. There was one small inconvenience: administration officials reportedly told congressional staff that U.S. intelligence showed no indication that Iran planned to attack American forces first. Trump nevertheless said he “felt strongly” that Iran was going to strike. (Reuters)

Excellent.

We have apparently replaced intelligence assessments with presidential feelings.

“Mr. President, what does the CIA say? Will they attack?”

“Nothing.”

“What does the Pentagon say?”

“Nothing.”

“What does our signals intelligence say?”

“Nothing.”

“What is your evidence, Mr. President?”

“I have a feeling.”

Launch the bombers.

Then Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a different explanation. According to Rubio, America struck because Israel was going to attack Iran, Iran would presumably retaliate against American forces, and therefore America needed to attack Iran first.

So, Iran was going to attack us first.

Except Israel was going to attack Iran first.

Which meant Iran would attack us after it was attacked by Israel.

Therefore, we must attack Iran before Iran would attack us after Israel attacked Iran.

Welcome to Trump Strategic Studies 101. Please leave your logic at the door. (Reuters)

Then came the nuclear argument.

Trump has repeatedly portrayed the war as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Iran is unquestionably a hostile, repressive regime with a dangerous nuclear program. But Reuters reported that American intelligence agencies had assessed earlier this year that Iran was not actively building a nuclear weapon. Israel argued that the threat was urgent. Therefore, Trump proceeded with the strikes. (Reuters)

This does not prove what Trump privately knew or believed at every moment. But it establishes something almost as disturbing: the case presented to Americans repeatedly outran, conflicted with, or changed around the available intelligence.

That is how countries wander or stray into wars.

First comes certainty.

Then bombing.

Then explanations.

Then revised explanations.

Then another explanation explaining why the previous explanation was misunderstood.

Meanwhile, Americans get the traditional complimentary gifts included with every Middle Eastern war: dead service members, enormous expense, higher gasoline prices, disrupted trade, military deployments, grieving families and a Trump explaining that everything is going beautifully.

Five months later, the war continues. Trump initially suggested it would last weeks; a Reuters/Ipsos poll now finds 80% of Americans believe U.S. involvement will continue for an extended period, while only one in five thinks the war has been worth it. (Reuters)

This is the part Trump doesn’t include in the sales brochure.

Wars are sold with certainty and often fought with uncertainty and no real plan.

Trump told America he would keep us out of endless wars.

Instead, he gave us a war whose justification seems to have more costume changes than a Broadway musical.

Perhaps the administration should stop calling it the Iran War.

Call it what it has become:

Operation We’ll Explain It Later.