“General H. R. McMaster’s military career was remarkable, and he built a reputation as a man who would not be shy about providing his opinion to politicians.”
National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster has faced a challenging first year in the White House with President Donald Trump. Any first-year administration has its ups and downs, and this one has been no different. For McMaster, the challenges have included North Korea, Iran, Russia, and a series of incidents involving comments made by the president. McMaster has had to defend his commander-in-chief to the media on a few occasions.
On the North Korea situation, it has been reported that McMaster favors a “bloody nose” strike against the regime of Kim Jong-un. This would mean limited strikes conducted against North Korean targets in retaliation for nuclear weapon and missile tests.
McMaster has expressed concerns that traditional deterrence, which was effective against the Soviet Union during the Cold War, may not be as effective against Kim Jong-un’s regime. They continue to pursue nuclear weapons and delivery systems capable of striking the United States without consequence, leading North Korea to believe they can defy the US without fear of punishment.
General H. R. McMaster’s military career was remarkable, and he built a reputation as a man who would not be shy about providing his opinion to politicians. As a young captain serving in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, McMaster led Eagle Troop, 2ndArmored Cavalry Regiment into the Battle of 73 Easting. Heavily outnumbered by Iraqi mechanized units, McMaster’s force of M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks and M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicles dominated the Iraqis in a one-sided fight that has been heavily studied within the United States Army ever since. McMaster was awarded a Silver Star for his actions that day.
There’s little doubt that US power has declined over the past decade, and there is reason to believe McMaster wants to change that.
In 2006, then-Colonel McMaster was commanding the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Tal Afar in northern Iraq. Breaking with the doctrine of the time, Colonel McMaster deployed his troops into the city and had them stay there on small combat outposts instead of the larger forward operating bases outside the city. This cultivated the trust of the local populace when they realized US troops would not leave the city on a nightly basis and led to better communication with the citizens of Tal Afar.
The result of this new counterinsurgency strategy was a vast improvement in the security situation and would ultimately lead to it being adopted by all coalition forces in Iraq in 2007.
Along with his combat experience, McMaster wrote Dereliction of Duty in 1997. His book criticized the policies of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations and called out the joint chiefs of staff for not confronting the two presidents with their objections to the handling of the Vietnam War.
He now finds himself in a similar position to the men he wrote about during an era of extended conflict, as the United States remains engaged in a war against terrorism and continues to confront adversaries like North Korea.
There’s little doubt that US power has declined over the past decade, and there is reason to believe McMaster wants to change that. The situation on the Korean peninsula could be the place to do it.
