The nature of so many wars that the United States has fought in the Far East and the Middle East is that they drag into long seemingly never-ending wars. That is what happened first in Korea – a war that lasted many years and through two Presidents, Truman and Eisenhower. Then it happened in Vietnam, a war that is sorely remembered as one of the most costly US wars in recent memory. It most certainly cost LBJ the Presidency. Iraq and Afghanistan are widely perceived as nonsuccessful wars even though they certainly did weaken ISIS and included the successful killing of Bin Laden. But there is one major exception.
The Persian Gulf War in 1991 is often forgotten as it was a rather swiftly executed war that accomplished most – not all – of it’s objectives. It sent Saddam Hussein’s invading force back to it’s borders within Iraq and allowed Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to continue providing most of the world much needed oil resources to keep economic flow going smoothly across the world.
But at the end of the Persian Gulf War, George H. Bush with his trusted friend, advisor, and Secretary of State, James Baker, decided to cut short the campaign before Saddam Hussein was deposed and captured. They decided to allow Iraq to “live another day” and not “finish the job.” Ultimately, it was George W. Bush who “finished the job.”
But looking back, it is arguable that George H. Bush’s choice may have indeed been the prudent one. (Even though George H. Bush was thinking about the reelection campaign in November that he was facing, ultimately he lost to Bill Clinton because of the economic turn and the Ross Perot factor – not because of the war.) Sometimes, the best way to defeat a country and accomplish one’s goals is not to finish the job right away, but to do it in stages. If President Trump “finishes the job” in Iran this month, but then loses the November mid-terms to a Democrat wave resulting from the war, it can well be argued that he made the wrong decision to “finish the job” now.
But if he secures the Straits of Hormus for shipping that would allow for the free flow of oil, leading to a quick reduction in prices, that would probably catapult and stimulate the economy to go through a steep rise right around November. Then with a wave or popularity coming from retaining Congress, Trump could then decide when during his last 2 years of his Presidency he would want to finish off the war against the Iranian Ayatollah regime.
Caroline Glick is exactly correct in noting that this war is far from over. But one way or another, events in June and July 2026 will probably determine whether or not President Trump continues his revolutionary policies for 2 more years or ends up being dragged through endless impeachment proceedings in Congress.