Countdown until US midterm elections are over feels like waiting for war with Iran - editorial

The Jerusalem Post editorial argues that the timing of a potential renewed war with Iran is being dictated by the US midterm elections, creating a countdown atmosphere that downplays the gravity of the decision. President Trump said the US has largely destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities but still has sites to deal with, while Secretary of State Rubio said Trump prefers a diplomatic solution.

The Jerusalem Post editorial argues that the timing of a potential renewed war with Iran is being dictated by the US midterm elections, creating a countdown atmosphere that downplays the gravity of the decision. The piece notes that first came Israel's election, and now Americans go to the polls on Tuesday for their midterms. Once those votes are counted, the thinking goes, Washington and Jerusalem can return to the unfinished business of Iran. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States had largely destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities but still had 'one or two sites' to deal with, including the underground facility known as Pickaxe Mountain, which he claimed could be handled in 10 minutes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump hasn't made a decision and still prefers a diplomatic solution. The editorial criticizes the electoral timetable as making the decision seem like a scheduling matter, while the public deserves to know the objectives and risks of any renewed campaign.