Trump's Iran Policy: Lessons from the Past Loom Large

Trump's calls for an Iran uprising evoke the failed uprisings in Iraq in 1991, a cautionary tale the US president would do well to heed. As the BBC's international editor explains, starting wars may be easier than ending them, and the lessons from past failures loom large.

In the aftermath of the Gulf War in 1991, then-President George H.W. Bush urged Iraqis to rise up against Saddam Hussein's regime. Thousands did, only to be brutally crushed by the Iraqi leader's forces, with the US and its allies doing little to intervene.

The failure of that uprising has cast a long shadow, and the current US president would do well to heed its lessons as he considers his approach to Iran. As the BBC's John Bowen writes, starting wars may be the easy part, but ending them and dealing with the aftermath is where the real challenges lie.

The 1991 Iraqi uprising was a testament to the dangers of making bold promises without the willingness to back them up. Bush called on Iraqis to rise up, but when they did, the US and its allies stood by as Saddam's forces ruthlessly crushed the rebellion.

The lessons from Iraq are clear: making bold proclamations and inciting uprisings can have dire consequences if the necessary support and follow-through are not provided. As Bowen notes, the Trump administration must be wary of repeating the mistakes of the past and carefully consider the potential ramifications of its actions.

The 1991 Iraqi uprising serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder that the complexities of international relations and the realities of war and conflict often defy simplistic solutions. As the US contemplates its approach to Iran, it would be wise to heed the lessons of history and tread carefully, lest it find itself embroiled in a crisis that proves difficult to resolve.