President Donald Trump has consistently shown a preference for unpredictability over a clear strategic vision. This is especially true on Iran, where from the war’s early stages the United States has operated untethered from the guidance it issued just before the fighting began. Less obvious is a related failure at the operational level: widespread staff reductions and a reluctance to heed advice from seasoned national security and Middle East hands have left the interagency policy process dormant. Beyond ensuring complex policy options are thoroughly deliberated, this “working level” of officials is crucial to coordinating the implementation of decisions and engaging directly with allies and partners. If the Trump administration is to minimize the strategic damage of its ill-chosen war with Iran, it should reconsider some of the staffing choices it made earlier in its term and fill key overseas vacancies.
(Jason H. Campbell – Middle East Institute)
