Staff Reports
Stanford professor Michael McFaul made headlines this week on MS NOW when he said President Trump’s Iran strategy was making the United States look “absurd” and “like a rogue state.” The on‑air jab is the kind of theatrical line that plays well in a TV studio, but it also forces a real question: is this criticism aimed at a real policy problem, or at a president who isn’t taking a lecture from academics lying comfortably on a couch?
McFaul’s Charge: The U.S. Looks “Absurd”
McFaul — the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies at Stanford and a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and Hoover Institution — argued the character of modern war has changed and that the U.S. response under President Trump has been inadequate. He blamed cheap drones and asymmetric attacks for allowing Iran to harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz despite U.S. strikes. He warned that allies are asking, “what are you guys doing?” and suggested a radical diplomatic and military rethink.
The Military Reality: Drones and the Strait of Hormuz
He’s right about one thing: drones changed the battlefield. Small, cheap attack drones and sea drones have made asymmetric strikes cheaper and harder to stop. Recent rounds of strikes and counterstrikes around the Strait show that traditional naval power needs new tools. But saying we “look absurd” is a political hot take, not a plan. The U.S. has the world’s largest military and has been striking Iranian targets in attempts to degrade those capabilities. The answer isn’t theater; it’s faster fielding of anti‑drone systems, better sea sensors, and smarter rules of engagement.
Diplomacy, Allies, and Real Leadership
McFaul also warned that our allies are drifting. Sure, European capitals complain — they always do. But complaining and taking security matters into their own hands are different things. The reality is this: allies rely on American power. If Washington shows patience while it builds a better deterrent, that is not abandonment, it is strategy. If Washington freezes or panics and lets the Strait become lawless, that would be chaos. Washington needs to stop scoring points on cable news and start making allies useful partners again.
What Should Happen Next
Instead of name‑calling from TV studios, we need practical steps. Invest in anti‑drone defenses for ships, harden critical maritime chokepoints, and speed procurement of low‑cost countermeasures. Pair that with quiet, tight diplomacy to isolate Tehran while keeping trading lanes open. President Trump should welcome ideas from experts — even professorial ones — but policy must be judged by results, not by who shouts loudest on cable. If McFaul wants a “radical restructuring,” fine: put up a concrete, bipartisan plan. Until then, spare us the melodrama and let the men and women on the deck plates get to work.
