From Foreign Affairs · William H. McRaven · · 3m
The Limits of American Power
U.S. military overreach risks deeper failures as Trump administration ignores historical lessons.
In brief
U.S. military overreach risks deeper failures as Trump administration ignores historical lessons. U.S. strategy overestimates military power, leading to costly failures in Iran and past conflicts. Originally reported by Foreign Affairs.
U.S. Strategy and the Delusion of Force
The war in Iran is far from the first time U.S. policymakers have failed to appreciate the limits of American power.
Trump's Iran War Strategy
The war was launched without a clear rationale and with a constantly shifting set of objectives, from changing Tehran’s regime and squelching its nuclear ambitions to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Poor Results in Iran
The results, not surprisingly, have been bad both for U.S. interests and for the Middle East.
Historical Pattern of Overreach
The overestimation of the potential of military force has been a growing feature of American strategy since at least the end of World War II.
Vietnam as a Case Study
Vietnam the clearest and most consequential example of this overreach.
Post-Vietnam Military Decline
The military I entered in 1977 was struggling in the aftermath of Vietnam with a dramatic drawdown in manpower and money.
Reagan's Military Expansion
President Ronald Reagan increased defense spending by 35 percent over eight years starting in 1981.
Military Modernization
The military received new equipment including the M-1 Abrams tank, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and Apache helicopters.
Post-Cold War Confidence
The military was transformed by the Goldwater-Nichols Act and the establishment of U.S. Special Operations Command.
Gulf War Strategy
Bush ordered military deployment to the region and worked with Saudi Arabia to establish a footprint in the kingdom.
International Coalition Building
Bush built a coalition with Arab states, European allies, and Moscow and Beijing to support the military operation.
Clear Military Objectives
The coalition aimed to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait without pushing to Baghdad.
Gulf War Success
Operation Desert Storm achieved its goals in 43 days with 100 hours of ground operations.
Post-War Euphoria
The victory proved intoxicating, drawing us back into the false belief that our power could do almost anything.
Afghanistan War Failures
The war in Afghanistan began with noble intentions but devolved into a protracted fight with shifting goals.
Iraq War Missteps
The Iraq war degenerated into a counterinsurgency mission with insufficient forces and an evolving timeline.
Iran War Strategy
The Iran war began with a U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28 without building international legitimacy.
Iran War Mistakes
An early airstrike hit an Iranian elementary school, killing 120 students.
Iran War Objectives
The administration claimed urgency to preempt an Iranian nuclear weapon but later dismissed concerns as inconsequential.
Geographical Limits
The Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s weapon of mass destruction and bulwark against invasion.
What it means
U.S. strategy overestimates military power, leading to costly failures in Iran and past conflicts.
