The U.S. is in “deep trouble” when it comes to the Iran war, said a former top CIA official who compared the months long conflict to America’s involvement in Vietnam.
Leon Panetta, who led the Central Intelligence Agency during President Barack Obama’s administration, made the remark during a Thursday appearance on CNN in which he was asked who had the “upper hand” in Iran.
“Well, history tells us that forever wars do not end well,” Panetta said.
“And I think that’s the box we’re in right now,” he added. “Whether it was Vietnam, whether it was Iraq, whether it’s Afghanistan, or whether it’s Iran right now, the problem is that there really is no clear objective that the president is trying to put his arms around.”
“So he continues military attacks, which intelligence makes clear is not going to move Iran. And at the same time, the American people are paying a very heavy price as a result of oil prices going sky high and the cost of living increasing as much as it is,” Panetta noted.
“And so he he’s basically in a box right now trying to figure out if there’s a way out. And frankly, I think right now, this country is in deep trouble in terms of figuring some kind of strategy that can end this war. It does not look well at this point.”
Anchor Brianna Keilar asked Panetta how the U.S. gets back to the negotiating table with Iran.
“There’s only one way I’ve thought of to achieve any kind of leverage in dealing with Iran, and that relates to the Straits of Hormuz,” Panetta said, continuing: