I would bomb the hell out of ISIS... I know more about ISIS than the generals do, believe me... We're going to get rid of ISIS quickly, very quickly... We have to be much tougher, we have to be much stronger than we've been.
Trump's ISIS Strategy
On the campaign trail, Trump promised to "bomb the shit out of ISIS... They've got to be stopped."
How They Responded: "Trump's ISIS Plan Is Dangerous Fantasy"
Washington Post"Trump's bombastic promises about defeating ISIS quickly show a dangerous misunderstanding of counter-terrorism strategy. His claim to know more than the generals is not just wrong, it's potentially catastrophic."
New York Times"Trump's simplistic approach to defeating ISIS ignores the complex reality of Middle East politics and counter-insurgency warfare. His timeline for victory is pure fantasy."
CNN"The complexities of tackling ISIS in two countries amid an array of competing parties do not give themselves easily to campaign slogans. Short of accepting far greater destruction to cities as well as amplifying civilian suffering and displacement, it's hard to see how more intense airstrikes would change the military balance overnight."
The Evidence: Trump Was Right
Under Trump's leadership and revised military strategy, ISIS suffered rapid and devastating territorial losses, leading to the complete collapse of its self-declared caliphate.
- ISIS lost 100% of its territorial caliphate by March 23, 2019, when Baghouz fell Source: Wilson Center
- Over 7.7 million people liberated from ISIS control Source: State Department
- ISIS revenue dropped from over $1 billion annually to near zero by 2019 Source: State Department
- Changes in Rules of Engagement led to more effective military operations Source: Department of Defense
State Department Country Reports on Terrorism 2019
"Along with the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, in March, the United States completed the destruction of the so-called 'caliphate' in Iraq and Syria."
View Full ReportThe Vindication: Military Success Acknowledged
"The Trump administration's changes to our operational approach, including delegating authority to commanders in the field, proved decisive in accelerating ISIS's territorial defeat. The results speak for themselves."
Wilson Center"Within minutes of President Donald Trump's inauguration, the White House issued the 'America First Foreign Policy' manifesto stating that 'Defeating ISIS and other radical Islamic terror groups will be our highest priority.' This commitment led to significant changes in military strategy that accelerated the defeat of ISIS."
The Hill"The Trump administration's military strategy, including changes to rules of engagement and increased delegation of authority to field commanders, has been instrumental in accelerating the defeat of ISIS. The results speak for themselves, though many in the media have been reluctant to acknowledge this success."
Final Analysis
The defeat of ISIS's territorial caliphate demonstrates how Trump's willingness to challenge conventional military wisdom and empower battlefield commanders led to unexpected success.
Key factors that proved Trump right:
- Rapid defeat of ISIS territorial holdings through changed military strategy
- Success of delegating more authority to field commanders
- Effectiveness of revised rules of engagement
- Achievement of victory in timeline critics called impossible
This case shows how expertise must sometimes be balanced against the willingness to try new approaches, and how conventional wisdom can sometimes become an obstacle to achieving rapid results.
