A Warrior’s View of Why War Fails: A Conversation With William McRaven

William McRaven, a retired four-star admiral, argues that excessive faith in military power often leads to strategic failure, citing the war in Iran and the conflict in Afghanistan as prime examples. While technology provides tactical advantages, it cannot replace the necessity of clear, stable objectives and the moral high ground. The conversation highlights the erosion of civil-military relations under the current administration, warning that purging senior officers based on political alignment rather than merit threatens the quality of military advice. Ultimately, maintaining American power requires a values-based foreign policy and a realistic assessment of the limits of force, rather than a purely transactional approach that alienates allies and undermines long-term stability.