In 1990, when it became clear that the United States planned to push Iraq out of Kuwait, Saddam Hussein’s battle strategy was straight out of the World War I playbook.
Using a modern playbook, the US destroyed the Iraqi army and defeated it en masse with just 5 weeks of air bombardment and 100 hours of battle on the ground.
The strategy was dubbed “Shock and Awe;” it was magnificent.
Trump has adapted and applied the concept to his transition planning and rollout. Rather than acting as an emperor demanding fealty–pretty much the model adopted for his first term–, he is showing his strength by bringing in the strongest-willed and smartest people to run things and scaring the bejeezus out of establishment Washington.
Trump’s first transition didn’t go so well, whether it was because he was as surprised as anyone that he was elected or perhaps because he…
