The US can beat Iran at its own game, and without boots on the ground

This is an opinion piece from The Hill, a T2 national outlet, authored by Eric R. Mandel with a byline visible—establishing basic credibility markers. However, the framing is distinctly prescriptive and ideologically weighted rather than analytical: the author positions a confrontational 'war of attrition' strategy as winnable through regime pressure and popular empowerment, without substantive evidence or sourcing from foreign policy experts, Iranian civil society leaders, or strategic analysts to support the claims. Critical readers should note that this is opinion advocacy for a specific geopolitical posture, not reporting; the piece lacks the contextual depth (competing strategic views, historical precedent analysis, or acknowledgment of implementation risks) expected in serious policy analysis, and the center-right framing assumes the premises of confrontation rather than examining them.