Trump\u2019s \u201cteam\u201d is suffering from a simple misunderstanding.\u00a0\u00a0They think in global, strategic terms:\u00a0\u00a0number of weapons, power of bombs, percentage of destruction.\u00a0\u00a0In their mind, any \u201crational\u201d Nation would cower when faced with the ultimate might of the United States, three Carrier Groups, thousands of aircraft, tens of thousands of troops ready to put \u201cboots on the ground\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0And, frankly, to most Americans that makes sense too.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t mess with the USA!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After all, we grew up in a society that prizes money and power.\u00a0\u00a0We did learn from a young age to admire those who, as the saying goes, \u201cspeaks truth to power\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0But we also were very aware of the consequences of such actions.\u00a0\u00a0Those courageous folks were often cut off from economic and social support, and seen as \u201codd\u201d or even \u201ccrazy\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Americans understand power, and most of us, really all of us, pick our battles.\u00a0\u00a0We go along with a lot, and only fight when there is no other choice, morally or physically.\u00a0\u00a0(Need an example:\u00a0\u00a0look at the Ohio State Legislature, which regularly ignores the voted \u201cwill\u201d of the people.\u00a0\u00a0Sure it\u2019s annoying, but the reality of Ohio is that few stand up against this blatant abuse of power).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s America\u2019s way of thinking about power.\u00a0\u00a0But just because \u201cwe\u201d think that way, it doesn\u2019t mean the rest of the world does.\u00a0\u00a0And that\u2019s the fatal flaw in the Trump plan in Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back in the 1960\u2019s, America was fighting a war in Vietnam.\u00a0\u00a0The power \u201cbalance\u201d was incredibly lopsided.\u00a0\u00a0The American military in its full might, versus the Viet Cong.\u00a0\u00a0US soldiers, trained and equipped with the best armaments, versus men in black pajamas and sandals.\u00a0\u00a0But, year after\u00a0\u00a0year, the US was unable to claim \u201cvictory\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Instead, we kept track of the \u201cbody count\u201d; how many Viet Cong were killed.\u00a0\u00a0By the late 1960\u2019s, it became clear.\u00a0\u00a0Either the Viet Cong were completed decimated, and someone else was fighting in their place; or the \u201cbody count\u201d was a lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John F Kennedy in his first inaugural speech, promised to \u201c\u2026(P)ay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship\u2026to assure the survival and success of liberty.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0But Vietnam taught us a different lesson.\u00a0\u00a0THEY were willing to bear any burden, not us.\u00a0\u00a0THEY were willing to pay any price, not us.\u00a0\u00a0In Vietnam, THEY would accept any sacrifice to sustain their fight.\u00a0\u00a0It was the United States that wasn\u2019t.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It took us fifteen years to figure it out.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Afghanistan we had to learn that lesson all over again.\u00a0\u00a0The power was so unbalanced, the most modern military in history versus Mujahedeen with rifles and improvised explosive devices.\u00a0\u00a0But we still failed in the end. It \u201cjust\u201d took twenty years to learn that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here we are, preparing to \u201cbomb Iran back into the Stone Age\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0America just spent nearly half a Billion dollars to rescue the two-man crew of a F-15 fighter from capture.\u00a0\u00a0And that\u2019s exactly what Americans want our military to do:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNo one left behind\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0They are our sons, daughters, and friends:\u00a0\u00a0we will pay any price to get them safe.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the leaders of Iran are not us.\u00a0\u00a0They, clearly, are willing to accept any sacrifice.\u00a0\u00a0The US and Israel takes great pride in destroying the leadership of Iran, but, to steal a phrase from the Ohio State Football team, for Iran it\u2019s just \u201cthe next man up\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0The Iranian Intelligence Chief was killed yesterday, there\u2019s a new man in his place today, carrying on with the work.\u00a0\u00a0The Ayatollah was killed in the first wave of bombings, his son is now in charge, and even more intransigent than his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the way, the \u201cbomb them back to the Stone Age\u201d phrase came from Air Force General Curtis LeMay, the \u201cfather\u201d of America\u2019s strategic bombing forces.\u00a0\u00a0It was LeMay who led the massive bombing effort on Japan in World War II, attacks that burned Tokyo, and culminated in the only time in history atomic weapons were used.\u00a0\u00a0LeMay thought that\u2019s what we should do to Vietnam.\u00a0\u00a0In fact, more bombs were dropped by the US in Vietnam than were dropped by both sides in World War II.\u00a0\u00a0But, in the end, Americans left, and the Vietnamese Communists won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are on the cusp of another war defined by asymmetry.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The United States has all the \u201ccards\u201d and all the \u201cchips\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Yet somehow, Iran plays on.\u00a0\u00a0We can take the next step; Trump can order our forces to go \u201call in\u201d against Iranian infrastructure.\u00a0\u00a0And clearly we will be successful, destroying their power plants, bridges, hospitals and schools.\u00a0\u00a0But all of that will not force Iran to sue for peace.\u00a0\u00a0It will cause them to double-down on their willingness to sacrifice, and unify their people behind their theocratic leadership.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will win the war of \u201cbody-count\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0But we, in the end, will not \u201cpay any price\u201d for Iran.\u00a0\u00a0They know it.\u00a0\u00a0The American people know it.\u00a0\u00a0The question is:\u00a0\u00a0does Donald Trump know it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"