The War in Iran: An Unforced Error
Allison Silberberg's Plain Talk
The War in Iran: An Unforced Error
By Allison Silberberg
April 7, 2026
In sports, we often talk about unforced errors. In tennis, a clear shot comes your way, but you somehow inexplicably hit the ball right into the net or beyond the line. In life, there can be unforced errors.
The hit tv show, “The Pitt,” dramatizes this concept beautifully. The phenomenal and gripping show is about an emergency room in Pittsburgh. Some of the health issues are what I call “unforced errors” such as blown-off fingers due to a firecracker that went off in someone’s hand or a head injury due to riding a bike without a helmet versus illnesses that can strike any of us. In part, the show illustrates the difference between an unforced error due to poor judgment and a serious illness over which we have no control.
President Trump’s foray into Iran is what I call an unforced error. His war in Iran and now his threats of total obliteration with shocking profanity are all an unforced error. We need to call it what it is. One could say it is Trump’s folly. Military historians will be studying this disastrous and dangerous escapade for centuries, especially at West Point, Annapolis, the War College, and the National Defense University. Though Trump announced a two-week cease-fire starting tonight, his threats and actions still stand.
First, President Trump’s war in Iran is a war of choice. From the U.S. perspective, the idea of imminent threat is still questionable. Trump and his administration cannot seem to settle on the war’s justification, changing the expressed reason multiple times.
Second, Trump has still not sought nor received Congressional authorization. Yet, he has asked Congress for massive funding for his ill-conceived decisions. Of course, launching a war should not be his decision alone. Hence, the idea of Congressional authorization. And the War Powers Act clearly sits with the Congress.
Third, assassination of a leader of another country is against international law. Yet, Trump brags about it publicly. It is illegal. One week into the war, Trump’s Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated emphatically at a press briefing that there are “no rules of engagement” for us, indicating that we are above the law and not abiding by the Geneva Conventions, to which our nation is a signatory. Trump and his administration have taken actions that have clearly defied the Geneva Conventions and are considered war crimes, which in turn places all of our military personnel at risk.
Of course, the Islamic Republic has been a treacherous government for 47 years. They have been brutal and murderous to their neighbors and to their own people. They orchestrated the bombing of our U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 220 U.S. Marines, 18 U.S. Navy sailors, and 3 U.S. Army soldiers in the fall of 1983, not to mention the American hostages they captured and held for over a year until their release in early 1981. And the Islamic Republic massacred tens of thousands of their own people in January this year after the public’s mass protests in the streets of Iran.
There should be no doubt that the Iranian government has been ruthless for decades. They rule by fear and have a great deal of blood on their hands. But starting a war with Iran should have been weighed more carefully.
We should distinguish between our disgust with the Islamic Republic and wanting to protect the Iranian people. I feel for the people of Iran, one of whom I have known for many years, and I know a few who were held in Iranian jails and tortured for years before finally being released. It is horrific to hear what they endured and witnessed.
Finally, Trump and his top aides should have had a significant question at the top of their minds — a war’s economic impact and specifically the Strait of Hormuz. The unforeseen impact of the war in Iran should have been foreseen and strongly considered. Talk about an unforced error.
The economic impact of the war on us and the world is incalculable. It goes far beyond how much our gas will be at the local gas station although that is terrible already. Things will likely get far worse with untold lasting damage. This is a mammoth unforced error and will hit us like an economic tsunami.
Currently, the war in Iran has already translated into an increase in the price of fertilizer for our farmers, and this will translate into further increases in the price of our food. The price of transportation has gone up because of the rising price of diesel, and in addition, the higher cost of petroleum will mean an increase to the cost of any plastic or detergent. The economic ramifications of this war are endless. And in history, the price doesn’t usually come back down and certainly not quickly. Mortgage rates will go up higher, not to mention the threat of inflation. This will create a downward economic spiral. Get ready.
People around the world will also take an economic hit as a result of the war. Their food will be far more expensive. More will suffer and starve. And here is the kicker. China and Russia are savoring the whole situation and will benefit. They already are.
Unintended consequences are quickly piling up, and we are spending $1.5-$2 billion a day on the war when we could have focused those dollars on social programs at home. All of this is why our intelligence experts did “war game” scenarios and analysis for many years and had historically advised against a war in Iran.
My history thesis in college was about Gallipoli, which was a disastrous battle in 1915 during World War I. While there are many differences between Iran and Gallipoli, the similarities in terms of lessons are eerie.
Gallipoli led to the slaughter of tens of thousands of Australians and New Zealanders (known as ANZACs). It was unbelievably tragic and costly. The ill-conceived battle at Gallipoli led to the downfall of a young Winston Churchill, who was the First Lord of the Admiralty at the time. Churchill wasn’t the only person behind the idea of Gallipoli, but he was deeply involved and was soon ousted and ruined for many years as a result of it. How ironic that Trump recently said that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was no Churchill. Trump was referencing Churchill’s outstanding leadership in World War II and not the Churchill of 1915.
Has Trump even heard of Gallipoli?
A quick analysis of Gallipoli should include how the British leadership made disastrous assumptions about their adversary, underestimated their adversary, and did not appreciate the geography and terrain enough, as well as the poor planning and massive hubris.
In short, Iran is fast becoming Gallipoli for Trump unless Trump finds a way to extricate us from this morass that he created.
The whole situation is untenable. Setting aside the need for a War Powers Act, the President does not have the support of we the people here at home. The polling shows an overwhelmingly opposed public.
We were at the negotiation table with the Iranians when the war began. Do you think adversaries will trust Americans again? Do you think an Iranian who has lost family or all their home or belongings will want revenge and put America’s homeland at risk in the future? I do.
This war is complicated. All wars are. But the war in Iran has not made us or the Middle East or the world safer. It has made us less safe on so many fronts. And worst of all, the Islamic Republic of Iran may be more determined than ever to create nuclear weapons.
And Trump, who has already blown up many nationally treasured sites in Iran, is threatening to obliterate the historic lands and irreplaceable treasures of Iran, which is the home of ancient Persia. A few days ago, Trump (aka: Mr. Epic Fury) stated unequivocally that he would bomb Iran back into the Stone Age. That is not diplomacy.
Of course, we need a strong defense and we must stay committed to nuclear deterrence. This war is not the way.
I certainly pray for the safety of all our armed forces and those in harm’s way. They should never have been sent on this ill-conceived mission. I also pray for the innocent civilians within Iran. Over 1,600 Iranian civilians have been killed and thousands injured.
Until a few hours ago, when Trump announced his temporary cease-fire, contingent in part upon the Islamic Republic’s opening up the Strait of Hormuz, the whole civilian population in Iran, which has already been traumatized, was bracing for a carpet bombing.
Stop the madness.
Allison Silberberg is a writer and public affairs/public policy consultant. She served as mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, 2016-2019. Her work includes working on staff on Capitol Hill for Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen (D-TX). She is the author of “Visionaries In Our Midst: Ordinary People who are Changing our World,” which hit #1 on Amazon’s List for Philanthropy & Charity. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, on PBS.org. To learn more, please visit: www.allisonsilberberg.com
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