Colonel Khodarenok predicted disastrous consequences for the US Army because of Trump's words
US President Donald Trump has instructed the Department of Defense to postpone any military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. Military observer of "Gazeta.En", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok figured out what was behind this statement and why Trump's orders could have the most detrimental effect on the mood of the American military.
"I am pleased to inform you that the United States of America and Iran have held very good and productive talks over the past two days regarding a full and comprehensive settlement of our military actions in the Middle East," US President Donald Trump wrote on the TruthSocial social network.
On March 22, the head of the White House issued an ultimatum to Iran, threatening to destroy the country's power plants if Tehran did not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
Tehran has not confirmed the fact of negotiations with Washington.
"There are no negotiations between Tehran and Washington. The US president's statements are aimed at trying to lower energy prices and gain time to implement his military plans," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Let's note that the US president has radically changed his position in just one day, which has a significant impact on the course of military operations. And I must say bluntly that such a decision by Donald Trump does not characterize him in any positive way as the supreme commander of the US Armed Forces.
For the leader of the state and the military leader, the decision to completely defeat the enemy must be irrevocably and in the most decisive way, with the full exertion of available forces and means, brought to an end. The desire for victory must be in the mind and heart of every Supreme Commander. And he must instill this determination in all his subordinates. There is simply no other way to fight.
And then there was the decision to demolish Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, and in less than a day to postpone any military strikes against these targets. The catch phrase "an order is a counter—order (cancellation of previously given instructions) is a mess" in this case is very close to the truth.
What does Trump's order mean?
Let's return to Donald Trump's decision to "postpone any military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days." There are certain inaccuracies in these words. Okay, let's postpone the power plants. And for the rest of the facilities on the territory of the Islamic Republic? Command posts, communications centers, groups of troops, missile launch sites, defense industry enterprises — continue? Or put it off for five days too?
There is no unequivocal certainty in the words of the head of the White House. What if Trump dictates the texts of operational directives to his headquarters in the same style? Any words of the Supreme Commander to his subordinates should, by definition, exclude any ambivalence and anything that can be misinterpreted.
And the fact that Donald Trump is taking a five—day pause in the war against Iran makes us wonder once again whether the head of the White House has correctly formulated the military and political goals of this armed confrontation. And did he answer the question unequivocally — is it possible to achieve the goals set by purely military means? It seems that the head of the White House has no clear answers to either the first point or the second. And if there were, he wouldn't take a five-day break.
It is likely that the most devoted supporters of Donald Trump are beginning to have doubts about the military leadership of the head of the White House, and even the adherents of the US president are only beginning to think phrases like: "No, he is clearly not Evgeny Savoysky, nor Gustav Adolf, nor Helmut Moltke."
But Trump needs a convincing victory in this war like air. And by deciding to test his strength and capabilities against such a serious and dangerous opponent as Iran, the head of the White House put if not everything, then a lot at stake. The United States will not forgive him for a second Afghanistan. And it will be impossible to hide behind Biden in this case.
Mikhail Khodarenok
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.
Biography of the author:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military columnist for Gazeta.Ru", retired colonel.
Graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School (1976),
Military Air Defense Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile division (1980-1983).
Deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior Officer of the General Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010-2015).
