00:16I'll see you next time.
00:52A major warning is reportedly coming from inside Donald Trump's own national security team.
00:58The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Cain, is privately looking for an off-ramp from the
01:05war with Iran, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.
01:10And the reason is significant.
01:12U.S. military options for escalating the conflict may be limited, while more airstrikes could actually make the situation worse.
01:20According to the sources, Cain has raised these concerns with senior Trump advisors, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary
01:29of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
01:33The message appears to be straightforward.
01:36The war has reached a crossroads, and there may be no easy military solution.
01:42Cain has reportedly been emphasizing the limitations and risks of available military options, including options that do not involve putting
01:51American troops on the ground.
01:52One source described his approach as an effort to protect the military.
01:57And that matters, because President Trump has repeatedly appeared reluctant to deploy ground troops inside Iran.
02:05Instead, Trump has signaled that American air power could force Tehran to accept a deal on his terms.
02:12But senior officials, including Cain, reportedly have doubts about whether bombing alone can achieve that objective.
02:20Cain himself recently told lawmakers something that has now become central to this debate.
02:26Air power has its limits.
02:28The concern became even more serious in late July, when a more aggressive U.S. strike plan was reportedly being
02:35considered.
02:36According to the sources, Cain and other officials were worried about the consequences of escalating the conflict.
02:43Trump initially appeared ready to approve what he described as a massive operation.
02:48But after discussions with Middle Eastern allies, he ultimately backed away.
02:54Those allies reportedly warned that Iran could retaliate against their energy infrastructure.
03:00And there is another major problem.
03:02U.S. stockpiles of key, high-end munitions are reportedly becoming a concern.
03:08Gulf countries have also raised worries about shortages of advanced American air defense systems,
03:14particularly if Iran responds with attacks against regional targets.
03:19Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran's energy infrastructure.
03:23But U.S. officials reportedly believe that such attacks may not force Tehran to surrender.
03:28Instead, they could trigger retaliation against the energy infrastructure of America's Gulf partners.
03:35And that could widen the war dramatically.
03:38So the bigger question now is not simply whether the United States can launch more attacks.
03:44It is whether those attacks can actually achieve Trump's objectives without creating a much larger conflict.
03:50The reported push by General Cain for an off-ramp suggests that concern is now being discussed
03:57at the highest levels of the U.S. government.
03:59The war may have started with overwhelming military power.
04:03But the latest debate is about something much harder.
04:06How does the United States get out without making the war even bigger?
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