Lions Led by Donkeys

"The U.S. is waging a struggle against an unquestionably malign enemy, using a military that is highly competent but in some respects under-equipped, and with the worst wartime political leadership America has ever had."

"In wartime, objectives are usually muddled, occasionally implicit, and always changing. Take, for example, the most recent supposedly clear-cut case of goal setting in war."

"George H. W. Bush's four stated objectives for the Gulf War fall apart on close examination. Only the second of these was actually achieved."

"War is about politics-and therefore, objectives, which are particularly political, are often ambiguous and subject to change."

The phrase "lions led by donkeys" applies to the U.S. in the Iran war, highlighting competent military forces under poor political leadership. Criticism of U.S. leadership often exaggerates the lack of clear objectives, as wartime goals are typically muddled and changeable. Historical examples, such as George H. W. Bush's Gulf War objectives, reveal that stated goals often fall apart under scrutiny, with many unintended consequences arising from military actions. Political ambiguity in wartime objectives complicates the situation further.

Read at The Atlantic