Posted on 03/15/2026 1:10:58 PM PDT by Jacquerie
One thing the Iran War has demonstrated is that the overwhelming majority of journalists and commentators on the war are blindingly ignorant of the basics of military operations, they are unacquainted with the staff process, and they are so eaten alive by the all-devouring TDS virus that they have lost the ability to reason when Trump is involved.
The purpose of this post is not to declare victory, but to demonstrate that President Trump is leading a top-shelf strategic team put together by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. He is getting good advice, he's listening, and he's making good decisions.
Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported what I think is a blindingly obvious example of how command and staff relationships work and how the commander-in-chief handles those relationships, and tried to portray it as a scandal or an example of recklessness.
Commanders command. Staffs advise. The purpose of a staff, and, if you haven't picked up on it, the reason General Caine is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is that he's a staff officer. Trump is the commander because he's the president. It is the staff's job to present options to the commander and fully brief him on the advantages and disadvantages of each. It is the commander's job to make the decision and provide the resources. If things go sideways, a military commander gets relieved, and a politician gets voted out. But at no point does the preference of the staff legally, morally, or ethically outweigh the right of the commander to make the call he determines is the best.
The bottom line is that the decision to demolish Iran's navy, air force, and missile forces first was a solid decision.
(Excerpt) Read more at redstate.com ...
Take in all the information you can. Decide a course of action.
I learned this phrase early in my plebe year at USNA.
It served me well.
Great bass player, too.
Wonder how long it took to convince Truman to “drop it”.
Ramble On.
“President Trump Made a Courageous and Correct Call on Hormuz and Iran’s Actions Prove It”. The US is going to own it...some people will die, that’s war.
“He who dares wins’’.
No risk, no gain still works.
Re John Paul Jones, check out my tag line which I’ve had for a while now. Also congratulations on attending the USNA. I’m a Navy veteran. Was a Navy journalist during the Viet Nam era. Stateside though.
I LOVE LISTENING TO CAINE...
But did - or could the US anticipate the long term consequences of providing communist Stalin so much (versus a much more tempered response) material and knowledge that it entered Berlin first (thus gaining many top scientists, etc.) and (with help from its spies, esp. Soviet-sympathizing spies in the US), etc. that it became a nuclear adversary in just four short years after the United States dropped its first atomic bombs?
Beyond that, could it realize that 70+ years of costly deterrence and proxy wars would result as a consequences of not dealing with a war ravaged USSR when it might have?
Should the US have foreseen the consequences of not dealing with a rising China when it could have, thus resulting in more proxy wars?
Should the US have foreseen the consequences kicking the N., Korea can down the road for generations, which still has a stolen USN vessel it was allowed to commandeer and keep without US military action?
Should the US have foreseen the cost of underestimating the N, Vietnamese seasoned fighting ability, and a US politically mis-managed war against it?
Should the US have foreseen the consequences of subduing Iraq, thus allowing the ascendancy of Iran?
As far as Iran now, other admins have kicked that can down the read for a long time, but now the US and Israel kicked that can. Hopefully no innocent people with die.
However, it seems that the US did not anticipate the scope of Iran's retaliatory attacks on Muslim allies, nor was it prepared to take over Iran's very important Kharg Island, as now that must await roughly 2,500 Marines on up to three amphibious warships moving from the Indo-Pacific,
Yes. The OODA loop applies up and down the chain.
Observe
Orient
Decide
Act
Where do you get 'not anticipated'? There are phases to war plans, this is the next phase. Hopefully it won't be needed, but I guarantee you the warning order has been out to that ARG before the bombing commenced.
“Fortune favors the brave’’.
Loaded Iranian oil tankers still moving thru the strait...others not so much:
https://youtu.be/0SELRtaciaI?si=kMzaClA7NSfX-1dQ
I meant that for one thing, I would think that Iran closing or restricting the Strait of Hormuz would be anticipated, and with troops at the ready in order to take it over, versus allowing this to go on and having to wait for troops and equipment to be transported all the way (apparently) from Japan.
However, most likely this was due to there being was a small window to begin the attack, which was not planned in detail until recently.
This op has been planned for awhile, @ least as long as Trump’s been in office. This is a phased op, having the ARG in the Gulf earlier would just be providing targets for the Iranians.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.