I’ll admit I’m surprised he’s let it go on this long.
However, when comparing this war to past ones like Vietnam or Iraq/Afghanistan, I am reminded that there are several very bad elements not present in the current conflict:
1) Rules of Engagement. In Vietnam, our military was literally prohibited from doing what was necessary to achieve victory. The enemy was concentrated in Laos and elsewhere, and we were not allowed to go there. Iran is the exact opposite. Iran is where the enemy is and has been for 47 years - and with Trump, we are finally going there.
2) Boots on the ground. That has always been the mistake in past wars. Past wars began with air strikes, but we soon ran out of clean targets as the enemy embedded with civilians and we resorted to ground operations - with a focus on capturing territory. Trump is not making that mistake.
3) Dragging on forever. It’s too soon to declare this a “forever war”. I really doubt Trump will let that happen, but only time will tell.
I can't believe, on a Constitutional website, I have to keep bringing this up, BUT
Our men who went into combat in Vietnam went without this:
" the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against [enemy]; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States"
Notice: The President is authorized AND DIRECTED - places the War Power where it belongs...ALL THE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY are...PLEDGED by [The People and the States} a/k/a Congress.
No American should ever be sent into combat without that in his back pocket.
Oh, and yes, I've already heard that Congress will refuse to declare war on Vietnam, Iraq, Iran. No need to bring it up again.
If the People, and the States, are against a foreign war - that's really all you need to know.