Sorry, but you're dead wrong, both on chess and geopolitics.
Have you not read Sun Tzu's Art of War?
"All warfare is based on deception," wrote the great Chinese general. "Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near."
If you follow your own advice, the US military is in pretty poor position, since everybody knows where we are, what we're up to, and when we plan to do it. It would seem that the art of deception is at best impractical when you're amassing an armada halfway around the world.
And an ancient Chinese military philosopher's advice notwithstanding, there is scant evidence to support the "false flag" theory. However, I openly admit to not having read the Mylroie book.
At any rate, I'm resigning as resident pot stirrer. There's little to be gained from further conversation along these lines.