Why Petty Despotism Doesn’t Win Wars

Sent to newspapers 6/19/2026

Why petty despotism doesn't win wars

When I was growing up, a career in the KGB was not considered an asset in an ally. Our President feels that it is the hallmark of a leader and an admirable trait.

Since at least 2007, President Donald Trump has been praising Russian leader Vladimir Putin – and specifically calling out his KGB credentials.

In an appearance on The Larry King Show in 2007, Trump enthused, “Look at Putin – what he's doing with Russia – I mean, you know, what's going on over there. I mean this guy has done – whether you like him or don't like him – he's doing a great job in rebuilding the image of Russia and also rebuilding Russia period.”

This continued throughout the years and became more and more obsequious.

He kept talking about how much better Putin was than President Obama: “America is at a great disadvantage. Putin is ex-KGB, Obama is a community organizer. Unfair,” went a 2014 social media post.

He even congratulated him on defying U.S. sanctions in 2016: “Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!”

And then, Trump praised Putin for how he invaded Ukraine. In a February 2022 radio interview: “I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine – of Ukraine – Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful. So, Putin is now saying, ‘It’s independent,’ a large section of Ukraine. I said, ‘How smart is that?’ And he’s going to go in and be a peacekeeper. … Here’s a guy who’s very savvy. I know him very well – very, very well.”

In March 2022, Trump doubled down after the Ukraine war started in earnest: “But they asked me, ‘Is Putin Smart?’ Yes, Putin was smart. And I actually thought he was going to be negotiating. I said, ‘That’s a hell of a way to negotiate, put 200,000 soldiers on the border.’”

Problem is, 1200 days later, Russia hasn’t managed to win its war with Ukraine, and Ukraine is launching attacks inside Russia on the regular. And Russia has sustained over a million casualties with half a million killed in action.

I’m not sure that’s so smart.

Speaking of less-than-brilliant, a Memorandum of Understanding has been executed – I think – between the United States and Iran to end the three-month-long war.

Notable elements of the MOU include open references to the conflict as a war, the immediate ability of Iran to sell oil, the termination of U.S. sanctions against Iran, the establishment of a $300 billion fund to rebuild Iran, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

The MOU also ends the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. I am going to quote directly from the MOU the requirements for Iran with regard to reopening the Strait of Hormuz:

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start and, considering the needs for removing the technical and military obstacles and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.”

So, first of all, this confirms that Iran laid mines in the Persian Gulf. Second, this only guarantees 60 days of toll-free passage for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The MOU also calls for cessation of combat operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Well, the commencement of post-MOU negotiations is postponed already because the Israelis aren’t having that and have launched strikes into Lebanon after the execution of the MOU.

This is what you get when all the guardrails come off the presidency. When the lead negotiators are a couple of real estate billionaires from New York City. When the concepts of soft power and realpolitik are discarded and the long game in sight is simply midterm elections.

This is the surrender of a small-time strongman. Eager to get out of this war that is not going his way, the President is handling it like other transactions: throw money at it.

There’s another edge to this sword. It’s Donald Trump throwing money at it. In his private sector life, he is notorious for stiffing his contractors. I am guessing Iranian intelligence knows this if I know it. I wouldn’t expect a single gram of uranium to be downblended before the entire $300 billion is transferred.

A wise leader would definitely not be talked into signing it at Versailles, the site of the greatest surrender in modern history: Germany surrendering to the Allies at the end of World War I. Yet President Trump sign this terribly lopsided MOU at that very site Wednesday.

And said in a press conference the same day, when asked by Fox News’ Peter Doocy if Vice President Vance would take the fall if the MOU fell through, “I like that idea, sure.” He went on to say, “If it works out, I’m going to take the credit. If it doesn’t work out, I’m blaming JD.”

Asked if he would attend the formal signing ceremony, our indefatigable leader said he wasn’t “sure it’s the type of document I should be signing.”

Hey, I don’t know if the KGB Academy is as rigorous as the President’s alma mater, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. I do know that this war has been heavily micromanaged and it has been a blunder.

I am curious, though: has the contractor for the Reflecting Pool been paid?

Merritt Hamilton Allen is a PR executive and former Navy officer. She appeared regularly as a panelist on NM PBS and is a frequent guest on News Radio KKOB. A Republican for 36 years, she became an independent upon reading the 2024 Republican platform. She lives amicably with her Democratic husband north of I-40 where they run one head of dog, and one of cat. She can be reached at merritt@merrittocracy.news.