Mission not accomplished

Israel may have astonished much of the world with its tactical skill in its recent war against Iran, but at least for now, it's lost.

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With the help of cheerleaders on Fox News, Israel pulled Donald Trump into its war; The New York Times reported on his eagerness to take credit for a mission that appeared to be succeeding wildly. But then Trump turned around and forced Israel to back down, declaring a ceasefire and lambasting the country for its continued bombing.

If that ceasefire holds, it will mean, thankfully, that this harrowing episode has concluded without triggering World War III, as some feared. But it also hasn't achieved Israel and America's primary objective, which was ending Iran's nuclear program. Indeed, it now may be more likely, not less, that Iran will become a nuclear power.