WASHINGTON/SAN DIEGO — Three weeks into the U.S.-Iran conflict, Washington is in an unusual state of flux: President Trump suggested Friday that the U.S. is considering "winding down" military operations, then threatened hours later to target Iranian power plants unless the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. Meanwhile, the Pentagon quietly confirmed it is sending additional troops to the Middle East.

For San Diego County — home to one of the largest concentrations of military personnel in the world — the zigzagging signals carry real weight. Families across East County who have watched their loved ones deploy are now left parsing contradictory statements from the commander in chief about whether the war is ending or escalating.

Congress is beginning to push back. Republicans who have largely backed Trump are raising questions about strategy and endgame. "The real question is: What ultimately are we trying to accomplish?" Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told the Associated Press. A $200 billion Pentagon funding request is pending.

Trump invoked the War Powers Act to launch the strikes without a congressional vote — giving him 60 days of military action before lawmakers must formally weigh in. Democrats have tried to pass resolutions halting the campaign; Republicans have voted them down. But the pressure is building as the financial toll mounts. The S&P 500 dropped 1.5% Friday alone, driven partly by spiking oil prices as Iranian attacks continue to disrupt Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes.

The economic ripple hit Santee directly: gas prices in the area remain elevated amid the conflict, with analysts warning that prices will likely continue to rise so long as the Strait remains disrupted. For East County commuters already stretching budgets, the lack of a clear exit plan means the pump pain has no defined end date. Residents watching the news this Sunday morning are left with the same question Congress is asking — when, and how, does this end?

Source: Associated Press