It has been interesting watching world react to the elimination of Qasem Soleimani. In the US, we can speculate endlessly about the political motivations of Trump and the motivations behind the reaction from the left. However, I would rather focus on the act itself. The elimination of Soleimani is more significant than that of Al-Baghdadi or Osama Bin Laden. In fact, it doesn’t even compare. Unlike Al-Baghdadi and Bin Laden, Soleimani was actually a cabinetry level state official. Everyone was aware of both his role and duty within the state of Iran. There is no question he had a deeper influence in the region than both Al-Baghdadi and Bin Laden combined.
Now, you could argue that the deescalation of the conflict at the US Embassy in Baghdad was the end of it. We sent in Marines over night, and we firmly stated that there would be no repeat of Benghazi. OK. We prevented what potentially could have been a disaster, but beyond just that what did we achieve? Nothing. Killing Soleimani was an act of strategic deterrence.
Deterrence is something we’ve forgotten about in this country. The loss of deterrence has led to incorrect notions of US power and foreign policy. Our use of political and military power has become predictable. This is dangerous. The killing of Soleimani was an act of deterrence, and therefore, an act of disruption. Any gesture or intimation that assures an aggressor that we will not act welcomes contempt and violence. And, not only for us, but the world. We have to start using deterrence and disruption as frames of mind. Will the death of Soleimani heighten tensions between the US and Iran? Yes. Will it probably affect the stock market? Yes. Will it probably affect the price of oil? Yes.
We’ll survive. I promise.
There is more military might on a single United States naval carrier than in the entire Iranian military. Unfortunately, in the last 20 years, the world has forgotten what we are capable of. Iran has just been reminded.
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