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.

  • Jax@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    9 hours ago

    How did the Iraq war yield quick results? Wasn’t the U.S. military there for like 9 years?

    • Psythik@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      edit-2
      7 hours ago

      Nevermind the article, are you seriously so lazy that you won’t even read the summary? You don’t even have to click on anything. It’s right in front of you! Just read it!