Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and former National Security Adviser during the Trump administration, provided insights into a recent military operation that he characterized as extraordinarily successful. He described the operation as meeting the criteria of a raiddefined by its limited purpose, brief duration, and planned withdrawal.
According to General McMaster, the offensive successfully targeted three sites without a single shot being fired against U.S. forces, highlighting a high level of training and professionalism across American military services.
He further noted the potential for retaliation from adversaries like Iran, given their history of orchestrating attacks through a worldwide terrorist network. He referenced the attacks in Argentina in the early 1990s, emphasizing the variety of threats posed by such groups.
“Iran could attempt to activate their global terrorist network,” General McMaster warned. “They might strike U.S. bases or personnel, and they would incur an extremely high price for doing so.”
He elaborated on the various methods Iran could employ to retaliate, such as using proxies like the Al Shaabi militias in Iraq or the Houthis to target U.S. locations. Additionally, they might conduct missile or drone strikes against American bases, or even attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure, as they have done in the past.
McMaster also highlighted the possibility of cyber attacks, referencing incidents from 2007 as evidence of Iran’s capabilities in that domain. “I think they will try to lash out in many of these ways due to the regime’s ideologies and its permanent hostility towards the United States and our allies,” he stated, reiterating the need to prevent Iran from acquiring the most destructive weapons available.
On the subject of U.S. military readiness, General McMaster emphasized the fact that American servicemen and women are not merely waiting to become victims. He asserted that they are part of an integrated joint force capable of responding effectively to various threats.
He pointed to previous encounters where U.S. forces faced greater than expected retaliation, such as a Russian mercenary attack in Syria in 2018. “When you attack a U.S. base, you’re not simply targeting a small facility; you’re facing the full capabilities of an integrated joint force,” he noted.
As for President Trump, McMaster commented on the president’s approach to military force and negotiations with Iran. “President Trump is not capricious with the use of force; he prefers to negotiate,” he explained.
He suggested that recent military actions may have been intended as an 11th-hour effort to persuade the Iranians to engage in negotiations regarding their nuclear program. However, he emphasized that negotiations were hindered by Iranian intransigence, which was evident during meetings between Iranian diplomats and their European counterparts.
Reflecting on the nature of the Iranian regime, McMaster portrayed it as driven by ideology marked by permanent hostility towards the U.S., Israel, and even Arab neighbors. He stated, “This is a regime that is full of hatred and vitriol,” asserting that arms control negotiations would falter without a credible threat of military action.
When asked about the objective of blocking Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, McMaster reiterated that this goal has been shared across multiple U.S. administrations. However, he stressed that previous administrations often fell short in their efforts, sometimes deluding themselves about the effectiveness of diplomatic agreements.
He specifically criticized the Iran nuclear deal, which allowed for sunset clauses and a lack of robust inspection and verification measures. According to him, this agreement unintentionally strengthened Iran’s position by providing them with sanctions relief, allowing them to bolster their military capabilities and expand their influence in the region.
He argued that the Iranians would continue to clandestinely advance their nuclear program, drawing attention to specific facilities like Fordow, which is situated deep underground and was kept secretive for a reason. “No country needs uranium enriched to 60 percent for civilian purposes,” he pointed out, emphasizing the suspicious nature of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
McMaster wrapped up with a powerful statement about the broader implications of Iran’s actions, asserting the need for vigilance in protecting national and international security from threats posed by hostile regimes. “It’s clear what the Iranians were doing, and we must remain aware of the challenges they present in the context of global security,” he concluded.
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