Trump’s Iran ‘Video Game’ Tactics Spark War Concerns

US Strikes Iran Amid Conflicting Signals from Trump

In a dramatic escalation, the United States has reportedly destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying ships in the Strait of Hormuz. This action follows a stern warning from President Donald Trump, who threatened “military repercussions never seen before” should Iran continue to disrupt shipping in the vital Gulf waterway. However, the forceful military response comes just a day after President Trump declared that the war with Iran was “nearly over,” leaving many to question the administration’s strategy and whether it risks repeating the mistakes of past Middle East interventions.

Historian Sir Simon Schama Critiques Trump’s ‘Muddling Along’ Approach

Esteemed historian Sir Simon Schama, speaking on the unfolding events, expressed deep skepticism about the clarity and coherence of the Trump administration’s approach to Iran. “He’s just sort of making up as he goes along,” Schama stated, drawing a stark parallel to a scene from Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” In the novel, Prince Andrei, on the eve of the bloody Battle of Borodino, dismisses “war tourism” and admonishes his friend Pierre: “War isn’t courtesy. It’s the vilest thing in the world… we must understand that and not play at war. We must take this terrible necessity sternly and seriously.”

“War is the favorite pastime of idle and likeminded people. And we’ve got to the point really where, you know, this war is described in kind of Marvel comic terms by Pete Hegsith, the Secretary of War. Has a kind of video game horrible mad smell about it. As if by changing the name from Secretary of Defense to Secretary of War, you suddenly became a more serious person, more effective fighter, even if you don’t have a plan, even if you don’t have a strategy, if you don’t bloody well know what you’re doing.”

Schama lamented the administration’s apparent disregard for expertise, suggesting a preference for “toadies” over knowledgeable individuals. He pointed to the U.S. negotiation team sent to address Iran’s nuclear program, describing them as “real estate agents” who lacked the necessary scientific and technical expertise. “This is a government in the United States that thinks knowledge itself is woke is actually suspicious,” Schama remarked, highlighting a worrying trend of devaluing intellectual capital in critical foreign policy decisions.

Conflicting Aims: US, Israel, and the Shadow of Past Wars

The divergence in perceived aims between the United States and Israel regarding Iran adds another layer of complexity. While Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s objectives appear focused on degrading Iran’s military capabilities and potentially achieving regime change – a “bonus” – the U.S. strategy remains conspicuously ambiguous. Schama noted that Netanyahu has a clear stake in prolonging military action, partly for personal political reasons, but also to counter the existential threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile launch systems.

However, Schama suggested that Israel could have bought more time by adhering to the 2015 Obama-era deal, which delayed Iran’s potential for weaponization until 2030. For the United States, the historian identified a “horrifying kind of mad gamer reading” of the situation. Initially, Trump’s objective seemed to be to “let Iranians seize the moment for freedom,” but this was not supported by arms. The narrative then shifted to an alleged imminent nuclear attack or attack on American targets, for which Schama stated, “There’s absolutely no evidence whatsoever.” The current justification appears to be whatever definition of “total victory” Trump might declare.

Echoes of Iraq: A Familiar Pattern of Neglect?

When questioned about potential parallels to the Iraq War, Schama acknowledged a worrying similarity: a lack of foresight regarding the consequences of military action. “Every blundering disaster has its own particular personality,” he stated, but conceded that “very little thought seems to be given to the same thing in Iran” as was the case after Saddam Hussein’s regime was toppled. While the immediate deployment of “boots on the ground” – a key factor in the Iraq catastrophe – is not currently apparent, Schama warned that the U.S. is in “denial about needing boots on the ground” in the long term.

The historian highlighted the significant amount of uranium enriched to 60%, close to the 80% needed for a nuclear weapon, stating, “You can’t bomb your way to finding the dangerous uranium.” He concluded with a stark observation: “So in some sense they’re like children, you know, go to sleep, you know, heady and ecstatic with the last video game you played. And it’s a sort of Alfred E. Newman philosophy, not Clausvitz. What me worry?” This implies a potentially dangerous detachment from the grave realities of nuclear proliferation and international conflict.

Source: US Attacks On Iran Are A 'Video Game' To Trump | Sir Simon Schama (YouTube)