This contradiction will become vivid in Trump’s Middle East strategy. Throughout his campaign, Trump has – often in fairly blunt terms – indicated his desire to tame the Islamic State. In his own words, he would like to “knock the hell out of them.” But as Bush 43 found out to his own peril after the extremely-ill-advised invasion of Iraq in 2003, superior firepower and “shock-and-awe” tactics only goes so far. The real challenge starts when the bombing ends, and when the only thing that prevents an ancient society from falling apart are American boots on the ground. If Trump’s Middle East strategy is ‘shoot-and-scoot’, the coming anarchy in the Middle East will make Iraq and Syria look like suburban Maryland, in comparison.
Trump’s advisors – which include people slated for cabinet positions – know this well, often from direct professional experience. For example, retired US army lieutenant general Michael Flynn is rumoured to be appointed either as Secretary of Defense (for which he may be ineligible by law, barring a congressional waiver) or National Security Advisor in the Trump administration. Flynn served as the head of intelligence in the joint special operations command during the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns and is a well-known (and respected) scholar-practitioner of counterterrorism and intelligence.
Confidantes like Flynn will definitely alert Trump to the possibility should the United States embark on a vigorous campaign to annihilate the Islamic State and other assorted Sunni extremists, then the country ought to engage in the region on a long haul. In which case, Trump simply becomes Bush 43, albeit with a foul mouth and a worse attitude.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:patch.com)
