Trump is contemplating the sheer folly of boots on the ground in Iran. How did it come to this? | Simon Tisdall

Trump is reportedly considering deploying US ground troops to Iran to prevent military defeat in a conflict he initiated and has struggled to manage, according to analyst Simon Tisdall. The contemplated escalation reflects Trump's concern about personal and political humiliation rather than strategic necessity, Tisdall argues. Such a move would repeat the costly mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan, where prolonged ground wars drained resources and damaged American credibility in the Middle East. Tisdall warns that even a limited troop deployment could prove catastrophic for both Trump's presidency and American interests, trapping him in an unwinnable conflict. The analysis underscores how Trump faces a strategic dilemma: escalating risks further disaster, while backing down risks the political damage he seeks to avoid.