In nearly 14 hours of congressional testimony in recent weeks, Gen. Dan Caine was repeatedly asked versions of the same two questions: How had the world\u2019s most powerful military allowed the Iranians to cut off the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and what could it do to get ships moving again?<\/p>\n
The answers General Caine delivered highlighted the tightrope he walks. As the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he is obliged to stay out of the political fray inflamed by the war in Iran. But he works for a president who demands absolute loyalty.<\/p>\n
In public, General Caine has defined the military\u2019s mission in narrow terms, an approach he took on Tuesday as frustrated Democratic and Republican lawmakers pressed him and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to explain their plans to open the strait and end the war.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur military objectives have been clear the whole time,\u201d General Caine said. He talked about \u201ctargeting Iran\u2019s ballistic missile systems,\u201d destroying its Navy and defense industrial base and stopping Iranian forces from threatening the U.S. military and allies in the region. He repeatedly praised the dedication of U.S. troops over the course of the war.<\/p>\n
But he avoided any discussions of the broader U.S. military strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you anticipate the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting impact on oil supplies for many countries, including here in the United States?\u201d asked Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an incredible staff over at the Pentagon,\u201d he said, \u201cand we always look at the range of military branches and sequels. I won\u2019t comment on any particular one because that gets to whatever advice I may or may not have given to the president.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, tried again a few minutes later. \u201cHave you been surprised by the resistance of the Iranians?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
General Caine has frustrated some lawmakers by defining the military\u2019s mission in narrow terms.Credit…Haiyun Jiang\/The New York Times<\/p>\n
\u201cI always assume an enemy is going to resist,\u201d General Caine said. He declined to say whether he had conveyed those assumptions to President Trump before he launched the war.<\/p>\n
General Caine has been similarly evasive on the damage to the Iranian military\u2019s missile and drone capabilities, a key indicator of the effectiveness of the U.S. bombing campaign and the progress of the war. \u201cAll our battle damage assessment matters are classified, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment,\u201d he said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n