During nearly 14 hours of recent congressional testimony, General Dan Caine consistently faced two central questions: how the world’s most powerful military had permitted Iran to halt oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, and what steps were being taken to resume maritime traffic.
General Caine’s responses underscored the delicate balance he maintains. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he is obligated to remain apolitical, despite the conflict in Iran, yet serves a president who demands unwavering loyalty. Publicly, Caine has narrowly defined the military’s mission, an approach evident on Tuesday as frustrated Democratic and Republican lawmakers pressed him and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for their plans to reopen the strait and end the war.
“Our military objectives have been clear the whole time,” General Caine stated, detailing efforts to target Iran’s ballistic missile systems, destroy its Navy and defense industrial base, and prevent Iranian forces from threatening U.S. troops and regional allies. While he praised the dedication of U.S. forces, he consistently sidestepped discussions on the broader American military strategy.
Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, questioned whether the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its global impact on oil supplies, including in the U.S., had been anticipated. General Caine responded evasively, “We have an incredible staff over at the Pentagon, and we always look at the range of military branches and sequels. I won’t comment on any particular one because that gets to whatever advice I may or may not have given to the president.”
Moments later, Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, inquired about Iranian resistance. “I always assume an enemy is going to resist,” General Caine said, declining to confirm whether he had shared these assumptions with President Trump before the war’s commencement.
Similarly, Caine was elusive regarding the extent of damage to Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, a critical indicator of the U.S. bombing campaign’s effectiveness. He declared on Tuesday, “All our battle damage assessment matters are classified, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment.” He also skirted reports of U.S. forces depleting costly weapon stockpiles, such as long-range stealth cruise missiles designed for a conflict with China. Asked about potential shortfalls, General Caine asserted, “We have sufficient munitions for what we’re tasked to do right now.”
General Caine’s most revealing public exchange occurred two weeks earlier when Senator Gary Peters, Democrat of Michigan, asked him to define the “center of gravity” in the war with Iran. This military doctrine term, originating from Prussian theorist Carl von Clausewitz, refers to the enemy’s primary source of strength – “the hub of all power and movement on which everything depends.” Historical examples include General Colin Powell’s identification of Iraq’s Republican Guard in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and Admiral Mike Mullen’s focus on building citizen-supported Afghan governance two decades later. General Caine, however, declined to define Iran’s center of gravity, stating that such a decision should rest with U.S. political leaders.
His reticence is partly attributed to working for President Trump, who aims to preserve negotiating flexibility by not committing his administration to specific war aims beyond preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The President’s unpredictable nature further complicates matters for military leaders, as public comments on strategy risk being contradicted by the commander in chief.
Senator Peters, a Navy veteran, offered his own assessment, identifying the Strait of Hormuz—through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply flows—as the war’s center of gravity. “We’re not going to bring this war to an end until we seize control of the straits in a way that opens them back up,” he declared.
Despite his public caution, U.S. officials reported that General Caine was more forthcoming, though still careful, in White House Situation Room meetings leading up to the war. He reportedly raised concerns that an extended conflict with Iran could severely deplete critical American weapon stockpiles and highlighted the risks of Iran blocking the strait. Nevertheless, he has consistently maintained that his role as the top military adviser is to present options to President Trump, not to take firm stands or dictate policy.
Military analysts hold differing views on Caine’s approach. Eliot Cohen, a historian and former senior State Department official, praised his discretion as “remarkably discreet, and appropriately so,” noting it is “up to his political bosses to decide how they want to talk about it.” Conversely, Stephen Biddle, a professor of international affairs at Columbia University, argued that Caine was conceding too much, as concepts like the enemy’s center of gravity are “normally understood as a military determination, not a presidential prerogative.” Heidi Urben, a retired Army colonel, warned that Caine’s silence might signal to other officers that they need not concern themselves with strategy, reinforcing “this fallacy within the ranks that they don’t need to worry about strategy, that other people will take care of that stuff.”
During the Tuesday hearings, lawmakers from both parties voiced concerns about the war’s economic impact on Americans. Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, emphasized, “Nothing matters more to our constituents than doing something about these spiraling gas prices, which are bankrupting families and farmers all across the country.” Senators pressed General Caine to explain how Iran, despite suffering damage and facing a massive firepower disadvantage, still maintained control of the strait and inflicted such economic pain globally. “It’s a complex situation,” Caine replied, adding, “Some of this is on commercial traffickers,” an answer that seemed to satisfy no one.
Senator John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota, urged General Caine and Secretary Hegseth to present a military plan for reopening the strait, stating, “That relieves pressure on us and our allies. And that’s what I’m asking for.”
Source link
