Withdraw and reinforce

Trump posted on Truth Social today that the US is considering "winding down" military operations in the Middle East. He dismissed the prospect of a ceasefire with Iran, arguing the US has "the upper hand." He said Iranian forces are practically destroyed and there is little left to do. Hours later, NPR confirmed the USS Boxer, carrying three ships and roughly 2,200 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, departed California for the Persian Gulf, with an estimated arrival in three weeks.

It is not the first contradiction of this kind. Hegseth has repeatedly said the war is "not open-ended." Trump estimated four to five weeks. Israel's military chief plans for April. But each week brings more military assets to the region, not fewer. The Pentagon already has around 50,000 troops in the Middle East. Last week the possibility of ground troops on Kharg Island and to secure enriched uranium was discussed. Now Marines are on their way.

An Iranian official dismissed Trump's comments as "psychological operations to control the markets." He said Tehran has concluded it should not teach Trump "a temporary lesson but a historical one". Iran reported a dozen salvos of attacks today, despite Washington and Israel saying for days that Iranian offensive capacity has been "all but sapped." Someone is not telling the truth, or both sides are describing different wars.