A former senior official from the George W. Bush administration has launched a scathing critique of President Donald Trump’s military strategies, calling them an “acutely embarrassing” display of strategic misjudgment. Eliot A. Cohen, who served as a counselor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, argues that the current administration has fundamentally miscalculated the challenges posed by Iran.

In a recent essay published in The Atlantic, Cohen contends that despite America’s longstanding military dominance, missteps have allowed adversaries like Iran to continue disrupting vital international waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, an essential route for global oil shipping.

Cohen highlights a significant lack of coordination with European nations, whose cooperation was deemed essential for effectively countering Iranian threats. He asserts that Trump’s administration failed to anticipate the complexities of military engagement in the region.

“America’s battlefield reversals represent a strategic failure of an acutely embarrassing kind,” Cohen wrote, underscoring the disconnect between U.S. military capabilities and operational effectiveness.

One of Cohen’s key arguments centers on the persistent Iranian ability to challenge U.S. military operations in the Gulf, raising questions about the effectiveness of U.S.-Israeli military cooperation against Tehran’s burgeoning influence.

He points to operational shortcomings as part of a broader critique, noting that the U.S. military is hindered by inadequate mine-clearing capabilities and insufficient stockpiles of advanced weaponry to ensure the safety of American personnel and assets in the region.

Cohen does not place the blame solely on Trump’s shoulders, admitting that years of underinvestment have contributed to these vulnerabilities. However, he insists that the current administration has overstated the effectiveness of airstrikes aimed at changing Iran’s government.

While acknowledging that U.S. military strikes have inflicted damage on Iran’s nuclear and military programs, Cohen cautions against conflating limited successes with overarching victories.

The failure to maintain a secure Strait of Hormuz—critical for global commerce—also stands out in Cohen’s assessment. He argues that this objective was never prioritized, leading to operational decisions that left key shipping routes vulnerable to Iranian actions.

Cohen’s critique extends beyond military tactics to encompass broader leadership failures within the Trump administration. He emphasizes the need for empathy, humility, and moral courage in matters of war and peace, qualities he claims are sorely lacking in Trump’s leadership style.

“The president is singularly deficient in all of these aspects,” Cohen declared, pointing out the challenges of navigating complex geopolitical landscapes without a nuanced understanding of adversaries.

The former State Department official also noted Trump’s apparent difficulty in grasping the multifaceted nature of military strategy, often neglecting operational details critical to success.

Moreover, Cohen observes that the strategic challenges facing the Trump administration are not unique, citing historical instances where major powers have made disastrous miscalculations in their military engagements.

This perspective on U.S. military readiness comes in the context of ongoing tensions with Iran, which have escalated in recent years amid continued threats to international shipping and regional stability.

Cohen’s essay serves as an adaptation from his upcoming book, The Strategist: How to Think About War & Politics, promising a deeper analysis of military and political strategy in contemporary affairs.

As geopolitical tensions persist, the critiques from Cohen and other former officials raise critical questions about the efficacy of current military strategies and whether the U.S. is adequately prepared to navigate complex global threats.

With the stakes higher than ever, the effectiveness of military decisions made in Washington will continue to influence not only U.S. national security but also the stability of the entire region.

The unfolding challenges will likely test the resolve of the Trump administration and prompt ongoing scrutiny from both political allies and adversaries as they respond to threats from Iran and beyond.