Trump’s endgame in Iran: Regime change without US ‘boots on the ground’
World • 2h ago
**The Unspoken Goal of Trump's Iran Campaign: Can it Succeed without 'Boots on the Ground'?**
In recent days, the world has witnessed a dramatic escalation of tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. As the dust settles, one question remains: what exactly does President Donald Trump hope to achieve in Iran? While officials claim the goal is to bring freedom to the Iranian people, many analysts believe the objective is more ambitious – to collapse the ruling system in Tehran.
But is this achievable without sending troops into the country? Experts say it's highly unlikely. "The idea that air power alone can bring down a regime is a fantasy," says Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center. "It's like trying to hold water in your hands – it just won't work." Grieco notes that the US has a track record of failing to achieve regime change through air power alone, citing the Libyan example in 2011, where NATO air strikes were followed by a successful ground campaign led by Libyan rebels.
Trump's recent comments, urging the Iranian people to "take over your government" and suggesting that the US will "take down the Iranian regime," seem to suggest a desire for regime change. But without a credible ground force, this goal seems far-fetched. "It's not just about the military aspect," says Matthew Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy. "It's about the willingness to pay the costs, including the human costs, of achieving regime change."
The implications for Nigeria, a country with a long history of military intervention in neighboring countries, are significant. If the US is unable to achieve its objectives in Iran through air power alone, it may be forced to consider a ground operation – a move that could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability and global security.
As the situation in Iran continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the outcome is far from certain. Only time will tell if Trump's gamble will pay off, or if the US will be forced to confront the reality of its limitations in achieving regime change through air power alone.