The self-professed peacemaker, Mr. Trump, has made the reckless choice to engage unnecessarily in direct combat with Iran. In so doing, he also chose to ignore the contrary assessment of the US intelligence community led by his own choice for Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
Essentially, and now, the USA is in a virtual state of war with the nation of Iran. But the American people have not been told why, and Mr. Trump has offered no proof that the Ayatollahs were close to developing an atomic device. A few worrisome issues follow:
- There is a Constitutional mechanism for declaring war. It is within the US Congress. Despite engaging in multiple armed conflicts in well over a half century, a cowardly US Congress has on every occasion deferred to chief executives that have not done well by usurping that authority. The last time the Congress fulfilled its duty was at the start of WWII. The negative results are clear – Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan are merely the most prominent examples of massive costly White House failures in judgement.
- Most Iranians care little for the oppressive religious form of government imposed by the Ayatollahs. However, by attacking targets within the country, Mr. Trump risks motivating the populace to support a regime they themselves may detest. If this conflict continues for weeks, months, or even years, a Tehran government engaged in the defense of the nation may prove difficult to unseat.
- Israel had already seriously degraded Iran’s ability to build and field an atomic weapon. One wonders why Mr. Trump opted for direct intervention in the conflict. At several levels of strategic analysis his decision to engage militarily makes no sense.
- The Ayatollahs have supported Shia co-religionists in Lebanon and Syria, and more recently in Yemen and Iraq. They can strike out at US interests and facilities within the greater region, while threatening one of the world’s most strategic economic chokepoints, the Straits of Hormuz.
- The use of terrorist tactics is usually the weapon of the weak. By way of comparison, the allied powers of both America and Israel are far more capable. However, this fact was also true in places like Vietnam and Afghanistan. In those wars, America won every battle and still lost. Have we learned nothing from history?
- Trump was nothing if not arrogant before entering the Oval Office. Now he appears to be drunk with power. Literally, and with each passing week, he has chosen to ignore domestic and international norms of conduct. At this moment, he is, in my estimation, the most dangerous man in the world.
To say that I am concerned, well, it vastly understates the matter. What now…? More tit-for-tat in missiles and drones…? The expansion of asymmetric warfare across the greater region by proxies…? A burst of terrorist activity directed at US interests anywhere on the globe…? Hostage taking…?
The self-professed peacemaker, Mr. Trump, has made the reckless choice to engage unnecessarily in direct combat with Iran. In so doing, he also chose to ignore the contrary assessment of the US intelligence community led by his own choice for Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
Essentially, and now, the USA is in a virtual state of war with the nation of Iran. But the American people have not been told why, and Mr. Trump has offered no proof that the Ayatollahs were close to developing an atomic device. A few worrisome issues follow:
- There is a Constitutional mechanism for declaring war. It is within the US Congress. Despite engaging in multiple armed conflicts in well over a half century, a cowardly US Congress has on every occasion deferred to chief executives that have not done well by usurping that authority. The last time the Congress fulfilled its duty was at the start of WWII. The negative results are clear – Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan are merely the most prominent examples of massive costly White House failures in judgement.
- Most Iranians care little for the oppressive religious form of government imposed by the Ayatollahs. However, by attacking targets within the country, Mr. Trump risks motivating the populace to support a regime they themselves may detest. If this conflict continues for weeks, months, or even years, a Tehran government engaged in the defense of the nation may prove difficult to unseat.
- Israel had already seriously degraded Iran’s ability to build and field an atomic weapon. One wonders why Mr. Trump opted for direct intervention in the conflict. At several levels of strategic analysis his decision to engage militarily makes no sense.
- The Ayatollahs have supported Shia co-religionists in Lebanon and Syria, and more recently in Yemen and Iraq. They can strike out at US interests and facilities within the greater region, while threatening one of the world’s most strategic economic chokepoints, the Straits of Hormuz.
- The use of terrorist tactics is usually the weapon of the weak. By way of comparison, the allied powers of both America and Israel are far more capable. However, this fact was also true in places like Vietnam and Afghanistan. In those wars, America won every battle and still lost. Have we learned nothing from history?
- Trump was nothing if not arrogant before entering the Oval Office. Now he appears to be drunk with power. Literally, and with each passing week, he has chosen to ignore domestic and international norms of conduct. At this moment, he is, in my estimation, the most dangerous man in the world.
To say that I am concerned, well, it vastly understates the matter. What now…? More tit-for-tat in missiles and drones…? The expansion of asymmetric warfare across the greater region by proxies…? A burst of terrorist activity directed at US interests anywhere on the globe…? Hostage taking…?
The level of uncertainty grows with each passing hour. Uncertainty feeds fear. Fearful leaders make bad decisions. No rational analysts will make hard and fast predictions at this point. They cannot. Nobody knows what comes next in Mr. Trump’s war of choice.
—
Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out Bob’s book, Surviving the United Nations: A true story of violence, corruption, betrayal and redemption. It’s a true story penned by a Special Forces officer who became a warrior for peace. – GDM
COMMENTS
There are
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.