Trump is now caught in the oldest trap of modern warfare – believing a swift, surgical military operation will yield quick, enduring political results. The Soviets did it in Afghanistan; the US in Iraq in 2003; Putin did it in Ukraine, and is still fighting. Whatever force a military fails or succeeds in applying at the start, the people it is attacking have greater commitment to defending their lands and homes.

The White House may have rushed into this, seizing the opportunity for a decapitation strike, provided by Israeli intelligence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has very different objectives regionally, and a long US involvement against Tehran suits his desire for an Iran in rolling collapse that is no longer a threat. But the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28 has caused as many problems as it has solved.

  • Riddick3001@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    25
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    6 days ago

    You opened this can of worms, now lie in it.

    He’s already choking in them too.

    And imo, ofcourse he can end this whenever he wants to. Strategically and morally this operation makes zero sense. Not that anything he’s said or un-said, or started and or ( never) ended ever did. And no, I don’t think Iranians will come better out of this. It’s another humanitarian disaster in the making. He’s a destructive asshole. # edit Iran not Iraq ofc.