Trump’s strategic impatience threatens his efforts in Ukraine and Iran

When it comes to his role as commander-in-chief of the military, President Trump needs to toss his copy of “The Art of the Deal” into the trash can and begin embracing the art of strategic patience.

Far too often, Trump makes emotional decisions — often in the form of late night or early morning Truth Social posts — that disrupt military planning and operations. We have witnessed this in Ukraine, and now we are seeing it 27 days into the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Temper tantrums, especially presidential ones, are no way to run a war. They are, however, a good way to lose or prolong a war.

Instead, Trump would be well-served to stay tightly focused on the desired end-state of the military operations outlined by Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Central Command, that are already under way. 

That means clearly articulating the desired military goals and end-state. We thought he did just that on Mar. 6 when he posted on Truth Social, “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”

That worked for Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in War World II. It could still work in Iran, yet Trump keeps getting in his own way. He has repeatedly done that in Ukraine, trying to get President Volodymyr Zelensky to capitulate to Russia and surrender the Donbas. Now he is doing it in Iran. His strategic impatience — the exact opposite of what is needed — keeps undermining his war goals.

When Trump gets impatient, he sends in the clowns. According to reporting in the Beirut-based Al Mayadeen, Steve Witkoff “reached out to Iran via Pakistan and regional........

© The Hill