Finish the Mission: Why Half-Fought Wars Undermine U.S. Leadership

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By Stephen Carvelli
Editor and Publisher

Any task left undone is a task better never started. On a world stage, the consequences of unfinished tasks complicate world order; and on a national stage, they will impact elections.

Case in point is the Iran War. A long line of American foreign endeavors conducted by a host of Presidents from both parties is peppered with incomplete marks. The last unconditional surrender was probably World War II. Almost every war since then has been a negotiated surrender that most often falls short of the broader objectives for conducting the war.

The Iran War was touted as a war to permanently end Iran’s nuclear ambitions. These ambitions–to be permanently ended–would probably require a slew of bunker busting bombs, ground action, and assassination of top Iranian scientists. Whether this happens or not will depend on how Trump reads the pollsters’ tea leaves.

The other war objective–probably more tacit than explicit–is regime change. The Iranian regime has funded proxy wars and violently repressed dissent and free elections. If any regime needed to be changed in the world, this one would certainly rank in the top five. Since a power vacuum would occur if we help topple this theocracy, the Trump administration may not have worked through succession possibilities and the degree of “friendliness” these successors may have with us. I highly doubt a velvet revolution would occur here–since any idea of a gentle revolution is not a usual Mideast product.

Consequently, we are facing a real possibility that these two objectives will not be fully met in a negotiated truce. When this truce is reached, Iran and Trump will declare victory. The stock market (and bitcoin) will rise; and gasoline will drop at the pump. Voters can then go to the midterm polls and cast votes with a slightly less sting of high pump prices. Affordability becomes a little more affordable. Hopefully for Trump faithful, this would stave off an American regime change in which Democrats would control the House and possibly the Senate.

Trump occupies a unique position in office. As a term limited President with powerful executive powers, he can act with more pollster immunity than other Presidents. Although Trump probably wants electoral continuity for his mission, it will not be his battle after his latest term. His age and other business interests will occupy his time when he leaves office. His legacy will not be solely defined by his presidential terms.

Presidential legacies are often defined by the President’s actions (and non actions) on the world stage. Trump should embrace this–and be less controlled by the tea leaves floating on the domestic agenda. Actions domestically affect how citizens vote and whom they vote for. Trump needs no more votes from the American electorate. His current mandate demands foreign policy clarity. Finish the war…accomplish all the objectives that are outlined in the mission. That is my advice to Trump. The world would be a better place if he did.