Letter: Trump should lead troops to war in person

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Editor,

I have watched with interest as President Trump thrashes around with different proposals to justify his “war” with Iran, and the attendant rise in dissatisfaction with his handling of the “war,” the economy and just about everything else. I can’t help him with most of this, which is probably hopeless, but I have a suggestion to deal with his nose-diving numbers on the “war.”

My first suggestion would be to have him declare victory and send everybody home. This could be done tomorrow, would not require him to admit failure and would not get a whole slew of young people killed. It would probably also help the price of gasoline and diesel. This makes too much sense, however, and he would never do it.

So: Big Idea. As Supreme Ayatollah of the U.S., he seems to claim absolute authority. Great. He should declare himself the head general of the U.S. troops in the Gulf, take a quick course in “Generals for Dummies,” and get over there to lead the troops in battle. In my plan, he, General Bonespur, will lead the troops onto the beachhead, calling loudly the infantry motto: “Follow me.” He would no longer be accused of sitting behind his desk getting his troops killed.

I guess he would be accused of leading them into disaster and getting them killed. At least, if he’s leading from the front, he will quickly learn what the real problems are, and, if nothing else, fire the general and take them home.

Robert C. Alexander

Langley