Former Pentagon Official Warns US-Iran Conflict Is 'Several Months' Long - and the UK Is Already Paying the Price

Matthew Spence is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Middle East Policy under Barack Obama. On FUBAR RADIO’s Politics Uncensored, he analysed the 19-day-old US-Iran conflict, warning it is a long-term struggle defined by asymmetric warfare rather than a quick military victory. He highlighted the global economic threat posed by Iranian drones at the Strait of Hormuz and noted that the UK is currently "bearing the consequences" of a war it did not join, straining the "Special Relationship" with the US.

Matthew Spence is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Middle East Policy under Barack Obama. On FUBAR Radio’s Politics Uncensored, he analysed the 19-day-old US-Iran conflict, warning it is a long-term struggle defined by asymmetric warfare rather than a quick military victory. He highlighted the global economic threat posed by Iranian drones at the Strait of Hormuz and noted that the UK is currently "bearing the consequences" of a war it did not join, straining the "Special Relationship" with the US.

Matthew Spence provides a sobering analysis of the escalating conflict, the shift toward asymmetric warfare, and the resulting strain on the UK-US "Special Relationship."

Here are the key quotes from that segment:

On the Nature of the Conflict

• A Long-Term War: "This is not a 19-day war, this is a several month war and I think we're really just in the early innings."
• Asymmetric Warfare: "The idea that Iran would find a way to take a three trillion dollar strategic threat... and turn into a problem that they could solve with 50 dollar drones is something we all should have seen coming."
• The Global Chokepoint: "The Strait of Hormuz is an area 20 miles wide and it is a choke point for the global economy. Iran knows that and is using asymmetric war to get there."

On the Economic Impact & UK Position

• Bearing the Brunt: "The challenge that the UK faces is even though it did not participate in the offensive operations is is fully bearing the consequences and needs to do something now."
• The Cost of Going it Alone: "It is far better to go in a fight with friends and allies than to go it alone... it’s very difficult to suddenly ask others to help you when you haven’t done the work to get there."
• Energy Security: "As gas prices are going up as oil prices are going up... what was thought about what would happen here?"

On the US-UK "Special Relationship"

• A Frosty Reality: "No country should ask for a permission slip to defend their own national interest... [but] it’s no surprise this happened now and now we’re trying to figure out what’s next."
• Long-term Conviction: "If you look at the history of the US and UK relationship that question is 'is it salvageable' has been asked countless times... I have strong conviction that that will happen."
• The End State: "If anyone is expecting this to end next week you're going to be waiting for something that's not coming."