Donald Trump and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine (Getty/File)
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The Chair of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, is telling the Trump camp that the US needs an off ramp out of its war on Iran.
Caine assesses that escalation of the war could backfire and airpower alone is unlikely to achieve objectives, according to “three sources familiar with the matter“.
The general’s evaluation was instrumental last week in the decision, after a meeting of Trump’s Cabinet at the Camp David retreat in Maryland, not to widen airstrikes inside Iran. He warned of shortages of air defense interceptors in the event of Iranian retaliation.
The military is also facing a shortage of offensive missiles, having expended much of its stock in the assault on Iran. On the sidelines of the meeting, Donald Trump angrily confronted Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who tried to blame his deputy for the situation.
Caine has proposed the off ramp in discussions with other senior officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance, said two sources. The JCS Chair is making clear the limitations and pitfalls of the available military options.
“I think it is just his way of protecting the military,” one official said.
One source explained that the “only ones in favor” of expanded airstrikes inside were “elements of CENTCOM”, US Central Command. Israel also broadly favors the escalation.
A “senior Administration official” said Trump ultimately decided to retreated after talking with Middle East allies, who spoke to him about Iranian retaliation including attacks on their energy infrastructure.
Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sultan made his objection clear to Trump in a conversation last week.
