I remember retiring from the U.S. Army and relocating the family to South Florida. That was a long drive from Ft Hood, Texas, to Ft Lauderdale, Florida, especially with two young daughters and two yap yap Pomeranian dogs. I decided we would depart at "Zero-dark Early" so Aubrey and Austen would sleep, but when they awoke, the first words out of their mouths were, "Dad, are we there yet?"Heck, I believe those two yap yap dogs were yapping the same inquiry. Needless to say, we had not even hit the Florida border, going along Interstate 10.
This is a story that many parents and grandparents have experienced on a long drive with kids. But it also provides a very important lesson about how not to develop national security and foreign policy.
It has been some two weeks since America has prosecuted combat operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Just two weeks, and we have already had countless people asking, “Are we there yet?" That question may be cute, albeit aggravating, coming from kids sitting in the back seat, but it is absurd when it comes to engaging a dedicated enemy to our Nation.
Two weeks, as opposed to 47 years of aggression, attacks, and the murder of Americans by the number one state sponsor of Islamic terrorism in the world. Yes, I hear ya, Col., we do not want to be engaged in any more "endless wars.” The reason why we had extended combat engagements in the Middle East is that we prosecuted an operation based on occupying terrain and building institutions, instead of being enemy-oriented.
“Global War on Terror” sounds nice, but it is an ineffective and nebulous designation. Terror is a tactic, and a Nation cannot go to war against a tactic. We did not fight World War II to eliminate the blitzkrieg and kamikaze tactics. Wars, real wars, are fought against dangerous ideologies that threaten peace, stability, and civilizational ways of life.
For 47 years, we dismissed, disregarded, and at times enabled the totalitarian theocratic-political ambitions of the rule of the ayatollahs, mad mullahs, and crazed clerics of Iran. Jimmy Carter made a horrific decision in allowing the rise of Islamic jihadism and terrorism in the return of Ayatollah Khomeini. Barack Hussein Obama sent Iran pallets of cash. Joe Biden lifted economic sanctions against Iran and sought to restore the Iranian nuclear agreement, a foreign policy faux pas of the Obama administration. Even Ronald Reagan would regret not going on offense against Iran, which sponsors Hezbollah, in retaliation for the October 23, 1983, Beirut Barracks bombing. Reagan was again confronted with Iranian belligerence in the Strait of Hormuz when an Iranian sea mine struck an American naval warship and he did not make the same mistake again.
America can ill afford to develop, conduct, and execute national security and foreign policy based upon election cycles and politics. In constraining ourselves to two to four-year decision-making, we find ourselves at a disadvantage against adversaries that plan in 50- to 100-year cycles. Geopolitical decisions have to be made today, considering what happens not in a few weeks or a month, but rather 25, 50, or 100 years from now. Think about it, if Jimmy Carter had considered, what if I do support the Shah of Iran over this militant Islamic cleric, what happens 25 to 50 years from now? The same thought process should have been used by Carter when considering the future of the Panama Canal. Just the same, we should have considered Most Favored Trade Nation status for China. Even Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was against that.
Iran has been a scourge against humanity and a clear and present danger to the United States for nearly 50 years. It is absurd, insidious, and inane for us to be asking "are we there yet?" after just two weeks, heck, after just days. To have any American elected official evidencing a failed understanding of long-term strategic geopolitics is very disconcerting, and that is what our adversaries depend upon. The short-term, drive-through, fast-food mentality of Americans is detrimental to our existence and way of life. I mean, think about the invasion of Islamic forces into Europe dating back to 732 AD, when they were defeated at the Battle of Tours by Charles "The Hammer" Martel. Now, Western Europe is being overrun by the Islamic invasion of "al Hijra" migration.
Not too long ago, there were relations between Venezuela and Iran; Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez had formal agreements. There were direct flights between Tehran and Caracas, and even Nicolas Maduro visited Iran. With that, and the open borders policy of Joe Biden, we have concerns about Iranian sleeper terrorist cells operating in our Country. We know that there have been Iranian assassination cells deployed, and there was just a trial involving a Pakistani man charged with seeking to assassinate President Trump.
This is what happens when impatience is the determining aspect of American national security and foreign policy. There is a 21st-century axis of evil that has formulated: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Islamists, and Narco-Terrorists. They have come together, united against a common enemy, America and Western civilization. They have created economic blocs, such as the intergovernmental organization called BRICS: Brazil, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. This concept was first presented by Russian foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov in 1998. Philosophically, we could also add modern Marxists and Globalists to this new axis. Barack Hussein Obama can easily be considered the first embodiment of the Red-Green alliance in America; Zohran Mamdani is the second.
America needs visionary leadership, statesmen and women, who will tell Americans what they need to hear, not what they want to hear, based on politics and political cycles. Americans must start to think beyond 72-96 hours, at the greatest two to four years. Sitting in the back seat and ranting about "are we there yet?" is the greatest ammunition for our adversaries and global opponents.
Also, I would offer that we stop trying to make our troops deployed into combat zones as victims. Every single one of those who don the uniform and take the oath understands the risks involved. All we ask is that our full capabilities and competencies as Warriors be unleashed against the enemy. Finally, that is being done to Iran. There are no massive formations of ground troops waiting to be deployed. But, we are carefully, and with great precision, neutering the number one state sponsor of Islamic terrorism, systematically rendering Iran combat ineffective as a Nation as we decapitate its leadership of deranged clerics.
I remember telling Aubrey and Austen to be patient, and when we got to Florida, I would show them the ocean. They stopped asking if they were there yet, and after unpacking the Chevy Suburban, I took them to see the Atlantic Ocean. A world without the tyranny of Iranian mullahs is worth being patient.
Steadfast and Loyal.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
Help us report the truth about the Trump administration’s decisive actions to keep Americans safe and bring peace to the world. Join Townhall VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member