Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, the former commander of U.S. Central Command, said Sunday that the U.S. military has spent years developing plans for ground raids in Iran, as the Trump administration considers deploying troops into the ongoing conflict.
The comments came amid a major U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. The USS Tripoli, carrying 3,500 sailors and Marines, arrived Friday in the Centcom area of responsibility. The Amphibious Ready Group includes transport and strike fighter aircraft, amphibious assault and tactical assets.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative Republicans have largely supported Trump's assertive stance toward Iran, arguing that the use of force is necessary to counter Iranian aggression and protect American interests in the region.
Senator Tom Cotton, a Arkansas Republican and longtime Iran hawk, said any operations should go further than limited raids. 'If we're going to act, we should go all the way to eliminate Iran's nuclear program and overthrow the regime in Tehran,' Cotton said in a Fox News interview.
Senator Lindsey Graham called the military planning 'appropriate given Iranian provocations' and said he supports giving Trump 'every tool necessary' to deal with what he called 'the number one state sponsor of terrorism.'
Former Trump administration officials have also weighed in, with former National Security Advisor John Bolton saying that 'surgical strikes and raids are the minimum necessary response' to Iranian threats against US forces in the region.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and anti-war advocates have voiced strong opposition to any ground invasion of Iran. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently said he believes diplomacy should be exhausted before considering any military deployment, arguing that a ground war could destabilize the entire region.
Representative Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called the reported planning 'deeply alarming.' 'We have learned from the catastrophic costs of endless wars in the Middle East,' Jayapal said in a statement. 'Any ground invasion of Iran would be a massive strategic mistake that would endanger American troops and civilians alike.'
Other progressive lawmakers have pointed to polling showing majority opposition to the conflict. Senator Bernie Sanders has repeatedly called for Congress to vote on any war authorization, arguing that 'the American people do not want another endless war in the Middle East.'
What the Numbers Show
A recent CBS News/YouGov poll found that 60 percent of Americans oppose the conflict with Iran, while 40 percent support it. The survey represents the first major public opinion measurement on the war since it began approximately one month ago.
The USS Tripoli deployment adds roughly 3,500 personnel to the region. The Amphibious Ready Group of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit includes significant air and ground combat capabilities, though Pentagon officials have emphasized that the buildup does not indicate a final decision on ground operations.
McKenzie specifically mentioned Kharg Island, which handles approximately 90 percent of Iran's oil exports, as a strategic target. Analysts note that seizing the island could effectively shut down Iran's primary revenue source without destroying the infrastructure.
The Bottom Line
The public polling data suggests a potential political vulnerability for the administration, as majority opposition to the conflict could complicate any decision to deploy ground troops. However, Republicans in Congress have largely backed the administration's military posture.
McKenzie suggested that successful outcomes could include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and securing deals on Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs. He acknowledged that while a ground invasion remains an option, the US could achieve 'some level of success' through air and naval operations alone.
What happens next will likely depend on whether Iran escalates its responses to current US strikes and whether diplomatic channels produce any breakthroughs. The deployment of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit provides Trump with a range of military options, but the political cost of a ground invasion may be significant given public opinion polls.