{"id":497,"date":"2026-06-16T05:39:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T05:39:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationallogisticspost.com\/?p=497"},"modified":"2026-06-16T05:39:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T05:39:31","slug":"in-the-iran-war-trumps-role-model-should-be-bismarck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationallogisticspost.com\/?p=497","title":{"rendered":"In the Iran War, Trump\u2019s Role Model Should Be Bismarck"},"content":{"rendered":"
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P<\/span>resident Trump has been criticized from both the Left and the Right for his conduct of the Iran War and his approach to ending that war. Andrew Miller on the Center for American Progress\u2019 website calls it \u201cTrump\u2019s failed war,\u201d and likens it to George W. Bush\u2019s war against Iraq. Meanwhile, some GOP \u201chawks\u201d argue that Trump should finish the job of ending the Iranian regime, while some America Firsters view the war as a repudiation of Trumpism. In reality, Trump is attempting to accomplish his geopolitical goals (an end to Iran\u2019s nuclear weapons program and its effective support of international terrorism, and a more stable Middle East) by Bismarckian means.<\/p>\n

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The great British geopolitical thinker Sir Halford Mackinder, in his book Democratic Ideals and Reality<\/em> (1919), wrote that \u201cNo statesman ever adjusted war to policy with nicer judgment than Bismarck.\u201d Mackinder noted that in the 1860s and early 1870s, Bismarck fought three short wars and resolved those wars to Prussia\u2019s benefit, ultimately creating the nation of Germany. \u201cOnce he achieved German unity,\u201d Mackinder explained, \u201che waged no more wars.\u201d Indeed, Bismarck helped prevent wider European wars at the Congress of Berlin in 1878 and diplomatically established a European balance of power that favored Germany but kept the peace for four decades. Henry Kissinger credited Bismarck with producing \u201ca series of interlocking alliances, partially overlapping and partially competitive\u201d that maintained order and peace in Europe. A.J.P. Taylor described Bismarck\u2019s statesmanship as \u201cdiplomatic mastery without parallel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bismarck understood the need to blend military force and economic coercion with diplomacy to achieve geopolitical goals. In his memoirs, Bismarck explained his most important geopolitical goal that drove his diplomacy and war-making. \u201cOur task,\u201d he wrote, \u201cwas the establishment or initiation of a German national unity under the leadership of \u2026 Prussia.\u201d To achieve that goal, Bismarck proceeded with caution and prudence in waging war and making peace. As he explained, \u201cEvery great state-commonwealth that loses the prudent and restraining influence \u2026 whether that influence rests on material or moral grounds, will always end by being rushed along at a speed which must shatter the coach of state.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Trump, like Bismarck, is using war, economic statecraft, and diplomacy to achieve America\u2019s goals in the Middle East. As a candidate and as president, he has criticized the \u201cendless wars\u201d waged by his predecessors as well as their stunning diplomatic errors. President George W. Bush\u2019s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan became disastrous once he expanded the wars\u2019 goals to promote democracy in both countries and throughout the region. President Obama \u2014 when he wasn\u2019t apologizing for America\u2019s past sins \u2014 continued Bush\u2019s wars and embraced the ill-fated \u201cArab Spring,\u201d which only created more chaos and instability in the region. President Biden\u2019s restoration of the flawed Obama nuclear agreement with Iran and his disastrous pullout from Afghanistan further undermined U.S. credibility in the region.<\/p>\n

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In his first presidency, Trump promoted regional stability with the Abraham Accords. But after four years of Biden, Trump entered his second presidency facing a reinvigorated and more aggressive Iran (as exhibited in the October 7, 2023, attack by Iran\u2019s proxy Hamas on Israel and Iran\u2019s stepped-up efforts to acquire nuclear weapons). After working with Israel to significantly degrade Iran\u2019s ability to acquire a nuclear weapon in a short 12-day campaign in June 2025, the U.S. and Israel, in late February 2026, launched military strikes on Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities, leadership, and infrastructure. That conflict, which has included Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, has lasted more than four months.<\/p>\n

There are conflicting reports that a deal to end the war is close to being finalized. Both President Trump and Pakistan\u2019s Prime Minister initially stated that a deal would be signed on Sunday. Since then, CBS News reports that the U.S. and Iran have electronically signed a memorandum of understanding related to the deal, and a signing ceremony will take place this weekend. The president says the Strait of Hormuz will reopen and the U.S. naval blockade will end. Despite all the criticism, if Trump accomplishes his stated goals after two short military campaigns, it will be a Bismarckian achievement.<\/p>\n

Bismarck, like President Trump, had a legion of critics on both the Left and the Right, but those critics never caused him to waver in pursuit of Prussia\u2019s and later Germany\u2019s interests. Bismarck should be Trump\u2019s model. And Trump should keep in mind Bismarck\u2019s cautionary advice about global politics: \u201cMan cannot control the current of events, he can only float with it and steer.\u201d<\/p>\n

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