Retired General Stanley McChrystal, a veteran of the Iraq War, joins columnist David French in a podcast episode to dissect the ‘great seduction’ America experienced with Iran. McChrystal argues the U.S. consistently overestimates the impact of aerial bombing while underestimating Iran’s deep historical grievances. He traces this back to the 1979 embassy seizure and the U.S.-backed Shah’s regime, contrasting it with the eight-year Iran-Iraq war that forged a resilient Iranian identity.

French notes the veterans’ perspective differs sharply from others, shaped by losses to Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. McChrystal stresses understanding this history is vital to comprehending current tensions and the regime’s commitment.