After weeks of attacking Venezuelan boats that may or may not have been carrying drugs—drugs
that may or may not have been fentanyl—on vessels that may or may not have been bound for
the United States, and where the attacks may or may not have involved the killing of
shipwrecked crew members
The U.S. Campaign Must Combine Military Force, Aggressive Diplomacy, Economic Warfare, and Influence Operations
As Donald Trump takes the oath of office and prepares to begin his second term as President of the United States, America stands at a pivotal crossroads in its history. The nation must decide whether to continue its post-World War II tradition of cautious global leadership under the pretense of partnership and cooperation or to openly embrace its role as the dominant force shaping the destiny of the world.
Now that President Donald Trump has won a second term, he has the opportunity to reorient U.S. Middle East policy from that of President Joe Biden. Out is Biden’s appeasement of Iran. In is “Maximum Pressure.” Out is demonization of Saudi Arabia. In is Trump’s partnership with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Out is the Biden administration’s passive-aggressiveness toward Israel; in are close ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
After the latest Iranian missile attack on Israel, a significant Israeli retaliation is a certainty. This situation is fraught with risks of escalation and widespread global impact. In the face of these dangers, Western policymakers should explore strategic approaches to drive change in the Islamic Republic.
