Retired Army General Criticizes Trump’s Iran War Tactics as Reckless
Retired Lt Gen Mark Hertling says President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict creates unnecessary danger for the commander-in-chief and U.S. forces, referencing a foiled assassination attempt in Turkey.
Retired U.S. Army Lt Gen Mark Hertling, writing for The Bulwark, lauded Secret Service agents for averting an Iranian assassination scheme against President Donald Trump in Turkey that involved a decoy Air Force One. He nonetheless described Trump’s conduct of the ongoing Iran war as reckless, saying it endangers both the president and American troops. Hertling recalled former President George W. Bush’s 2003 Thanksgiving visit to Iraq, highlighting the covert, heavily guarded flight and minimal entourage as a model of prudent risk management.
He noted that Bush’s risky but deliberate appearance was meant to demonstrate solidarity with soldiers. The former commander concluded that a leader’s choice of where to be in dangerous conditions sends a powerful message and that needless exposure serves no strategic purpose.
Why it matters
It raises concerns that U.S. leadership choices may increase risks for the president and military amid the Iran conflict.
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