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US officials say the White House is sending hundreds of Marines to the Middle East as it weighs a plan to seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub. Deploying even a small number of troops on the ground in Iran carries huge risks for President Donald Trump.

Any effort to seize and hold Iran’s energy facilities would put US troops in far greater danger than they’ve already been exposed to so far in the conflict, which has seen 13 US fatalities to date. It would also add to the cost and scope of the conflict beyond an air campaign.

Just as charged would be the symbolism of American troops landing on Iranian soil and the accusation that Trump — who shot to popularity in part by criticizing the open-ended wars that dogged his predecessors — might be starting one of his own.

He said deploying a Marine Expeditionary Unit there would have “substantial risk of casualties, and with no obvious next step as to how such an action really accelerates regime change or even Iran’s willingness to negotiate an end to hostilities.”

Today's show features:

Jeff Mason, Bloomberg News Washington and White House Correspondent
Adam Farrar, Economics Senior Geoeconomics Analyst for Asia-Pacific
David Woo, author of Merry-Go-Round Broke Down: A Novel of Guilt, Greed and Globalization and Founder of David Woo Unbound
Ian McGinley, Partner at Sidley Austin and former Director of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

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Trump Fans Iran Quagmire Fears With Debate on Seizing Kharg

Bloomberg Businessweek