Trump Advisers Urge Him to Find Iran Exit Ramp, Fearing Political Backlash

[gfarber]

16. Asymmetrical Warfare

There once was a man named Trump,
Who rang bells with theatrical thump.
When asked, “Did you win?”
He declared "yes" with a grin,
While Iran said, “That’s mostly just hump.”

He wagered how much he could bear,
Not what the true goals of war were.
Iran, calm and dry,
Let the pressure run high—
And waited to puncture his air.

He left with a banner of “Win!”
Though doubts echoed loudly within.
Tehran, with delight,
Planned day and night
To prove that the boast was just spin.

He might have stored oil in a vault,
Before trouble could grind to a halt.
But the reserves fell away
After war’s earlier fray—
Now hindsight is calling the fault.

He might have convinced Gulf kings too,
Before marching his plans into view.
But the goal wasn’t clear,
So they muttered, “Oh dear—
We’re not sure what this fellow will do.”

He might have told voters back home
That the war could be long as a tome.
But he skipped that whole talk,
Took a shortcut in chalk—
Now the timeline is starting to roam.

If learning were part of the game,
He’d see why the risks still remain:
A bruised Iran can still
Make the tankers sit still,
And frighten the markets again.

For drones can be built anywhere,
Not just in a fortress or lair.
From workshop to shed,
They can buzz overhead—
Hard targets for bombs in the air.

And ships through the strait must proceed
With caution and maritime heed.
For control of that lane
Isn’t easily gained—
Short of marching an army indeed.

© 2026 Glen Farber. All Rights Reserved.

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