Every day, there seem to be promises of a resolution to the Iran War. And every day, Iran demonstrates its tenacity in refusing to surrender. I am sure that our rival nations (Russia and China) are having a good laugh at our inability to defeat this well-armed country.

What is the Plan?

How long will it last? It’s anyone’s guess. The United States has given up trying to attract support from NATO countries. We seem to have given up trying to secure the Straits of Hormuz. The war strategy changes like Texas weather. The current administration tries to blame all of the problems on the past administrations.

An editorial from The Dallas Morning News on April 2, 2026, contains the following comments:

“… our president has offered a stream of conflicting, confusing and chaotic statements that have only deepened our conclusion that the administration had no plan of how to proceed once the bombs started to fall.”

“The president’s hallmark is misleading statements. If his whims change, his supporters will call it strategy.”

“Bluster, threats and destruction from a distance are something this president is good at. But when a war has been unleashed, it has to be won, or we will face the consequences.”

Impact in the United States

On the home front, gasoline prices have risen by more than one dollar. Crude oil prices are trading at $99-$100/B (as of 4/1/26). Imports from the Persian Gulf account for only about 3 percent of the U.S. petroleum product supply. Imports of OPEC oil account for 5.2% of the petroleum supply. So why is the Iran War causing American fuel prices to jump? Gasoline prices as of March 31, 2026, were $4,018 per gallon. I find it amusing that although the crude oil to produce gasoline was obtained a month or so earlier, the price of oil from which no gasoline was produced is immediately reflected in higher gasoline prices. It’s kind of last-in, first-out pricing, and maybe, just maybe, a little profiteering. As most readers know, the price of fuel is making its way through the economy. From airfares to shipping costs, cost increases are being passed on to the consumer. This is increasing inflation and putting a near-impossible burden on low-income families.

Are we safer at home? No! Congress can’t seem to agree on funding for homeland security. TSA agents are finally getting paid. Many are returning to work. So, when we need our congressmen and women to roll up their sleeves and reach an agreement, they decide to take a vacation. While TSA workers were expected to work without pay, our elected officials got their checks and never missed a meal. How does this make sense? You are expected to work without pay, but the folks in D.C. get paid for not working.

Military

Why are more troops being sent to the Middle East if the administration doesn’t plan for a land attack? As of this past week, 3,500 troops, including 2,500 Marines, have been sent to the Middle East. U.S. Central Command reported that 200 American service members have been injured in the ongoing Iran conflict, with ten seriously wounded and more than 180 already back on duty, while the U.S. death toll has risen to 13 after a KC‑135 crash and Iranian attacks on bases. These numbers will only grow as the war continues, leaving grieving American families.