Back to Reagan, Iran, and Praying Mantis?

Time and again, history repeats, as human nature does not change. Humans forget or unlearn what they knew, allowing errors once averted – to occur. We are approaching such a moment. We need to recall crucial lessons – strategic and tactical – taught by Ronald Reagan and others. Being ready – and willing – to act is one.

During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88), Iran attacked reflagged oil tankers. In 1987, Iran attacked a Kuwaiti tanker. Reagan responded with Operation Nimble Archer, sank two (armed) Iranian oil platforms.

Iran paused, pulled their harassment, did not attack another tanker. US warships protected tankers transiting the Gulf, assuring free trade. Allies and adversaries, including Russia and China, watched.

The press corps hit Reagan for his swift, unequivocal, although proportional response. They asked if we were at war.  Reagan’s response was classic. “No, we’re not going to have a war with Iran, they’re not that stupid.” Topics over.

A year later, Iran again tested American resolve. Iran mined the Persian Gulf, which ended up blowing a hole in a US Navy ship, mercifully killing no one. Reagan moved swiftly.

In Operation Praying Mantis, Reagan dispatched the US Navy to halt Iran’s belligerence. Pulling no punches, but exercising restraint, Reagan deployed a US carrier battlegroup, four destroyers, a guided missile cruiser, and three frigates. The US Navy sank an Iranian frigate, gunboat, three speedboats, and two armed platforms, crippling another frigate and a fighter.

Message received. Iran stopped mining the Gulf, stopped attacking foreign tankers, decided the time was right to end the Iran-Iraq war. Free Gulf passage resumed. These outcomes are directly attributable to Reagan’s life-learned lessons, and pre-thought tactical actions by Reagan and the US Navy.

In short, when a belligerent nation acts out, when brazen words become bad acts, when America is transparently tested – or any American Ally is put in harm’s way – then the strongest military in the world, one which has long defended freedom, needs to step in, and assure peace through strength.

While Iran continued to underwrite terrorism, and the world was not suddenly safe, scorched hands no longer reached for unfair advantage; missiles and mines went home.

Reagan sent a message: Bad acts will be responded to swiftly and surely, deterring future bad acts. That day, Iran lost half its Navy.

Talking with a US naval officer present for both Reagan operations, commanding officer of the USS David Ray Cliff Perkins, the power of deterrence – and need for it – always resonates. “It just took one time going into the Strait of Hormuz at 35 knots to send a message that if you come into the strait in the wrong lane, you were not going to survive the engagement …”

Wind the clock forward. Since 2021, not coincidentally the onset of the wayward, increasingly debilitated Biden White House, Iran has been attacking foreign oil tankers. Since Biden took office, they have illegally seized five, harassed dozens.  Last week, they tried to take two, shot at one.

With forethought, the US Navy interceded. When the first was assaulted, America deployed a guided missile destroyer to intercede. When the second occurred, the same ship sped to the scene. For the moment, demonstrating that bad acts halted tend to deter future bad acts, trade flows freely.

But here is the point:  Iran knows the Biden leadership team is weak.  Biden continues to – apparently – believe a piece of paper inked with Iran would end their nuclear ambitions; Iran knows to strike while the iron is hot and a deal might get sanctions fully lifted.

Iran also knows Biden’s designated, ambassador-rank negotiator just got his security clearance pulled, and was suspended – for reasons still rather mysterious. They know Biden is low in the polls – worldwide – and his team effectively being bullied by China, out-negotiated, left with crumbs as China cleans up.

What does all this mean?  It means Iran will test Biden again, next time with more force, just as China will test Biden with more force soon. Every indication is that words – brazen, belligerent, almost inciting words – are being trotted out with more frequency, less worry or respect, tipping toward action.

What should Biden – and those advising, concerned in Congress, part of our national security community – do?  The answer is clear, if perhaps not obvious to muddled brains that put Russia is at war with Iraq.

Biden’s team – and any group of leaders in the country that care about averting a major war with either Iran or China – should remember the lessons Reagan taught, including the need to preplan, speak bluntly, do what you say you will do, think out scenarios, waste no time acting when action is necessary.

And finally, what may become necessary? A quick, effective, unequivocal and proportionate military response to a belligerent military act or acts by Iran – or for that matter by China or North Korea.

Only a fool or wishful thinker imagines adversaries who project an interest in conflict present no threat of conflict.  We need to plan – and be completely ready to act with force, as the strongest military on the face of the planet.

In short, whether we end up seeing bad acts that trigger a need again for operations like Nimble Archer or Praying Mantis, we need to be locked and loaded, ready to act decisively, no hesitation or regrets.

Reagan – and other greats, from our Founders through Lincoln’s generals, those of WWI and WWII through Truman, Ike, Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, and Trump, prepared for action.  Proportional use of military force can produce deterrence. Being ready, not wishful, is what puts that wheel in motion.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.