A flood of stories has appeared in the corporate media in recent days claiming that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, who was handpicked for the job by President Donald Trump, has been urging caution with respect to a U.S. attack on Iran. The recent stories include the following:
• Axios reported that “Caine has been advising President Trump and top officials that a military campaign against Iran could carry significant risks, in particular the possibility of becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict.” According to this report “There’s an ongoing debate at the top levels of the Trump administration about how to handle the Iran standoff and what the consequences of each option would be. At the moment, several of the voices in Trump’s circle are urging caution, though some sources think Trump himself is leaning towards a strike.”
Later in the story, Axios adds: “Any military operation carries risks, but a sustained campaign against Iran would likely be among the most complex and dangerous military operations launched by Trump, with the potential to pull the U.S. into a broader war in the Middle East.”
• The Wall Street Journal, in a story headlined “Pentagon Flags Risks of a Major Operation Against Iran,” reported: “The Pentagon is raising concerns to President Trump about an extended military campaign against Iran, advising that war plans being considered carry risks including U.S. and allied casualties, depleted air defenses and an overtaxed force.”
Options being studied for strikes on Iran range from initial limited strikes to a days-long aerial campaign aimed at toppling the regime. All options carry risks, but a prolonged campaign, in particular, could incur significant costs to U.S. forces and munitions stockpiles, unnamed officials told the Journal.
• A day earlier, the New York Times reported that, “Trump has told advisers that if diplomacy or any initial targeted U.S. attack does not lead Iran to give in to his demands that it give up its nuclear program, he will consider a much bigger attack in coming months intended to drive that country’s leaders from power.”
“During the discussions of the operation last month to seize President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, General Caine told Mr. Trump there was a high likelihood of success,” the Times reported. “But General Caine has not been able to deliver the same reassurances to Mr. Trump during the Iran discussions, in large measure because it is a far more difficult target."Feb. 24, 2026 (EIRNS)—A flood of stories has appeared in the corporate media in recent days claiming that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, who was handpicked for the job by President Donald Trump, has been urging caution with respect to a U.S. attack on Iran. The recent stories include the following:
