DIPLOMACY

A Call for Disciplined Leadership and De-escalation

May the Scales Fall Off Our Eyes · War and Accountability · Rollin E. Trueblood, USMC (Ret.)

Citizens,

There are moments in history when the direction of a nation is determined not by its strength alone, but by the wisdom with which that strength is applied. We are in such a moment now. The decisions being made today carry consequences far beyond what can be immediately seen, and they must be guided not by impulse, but by discipline, clarity, and a full understanding of long-term impact.

During her time as ambassador, Nikki Haley demonstrated the ability to work with our allies, build trust, and form coalitions necessary to navigate complex global challenges. I supported her because she possesses the leadership qualities required for the kind of moment we are now facing — diplomacy, integrity, character, and the ability to bring nations together rather than drive them apart.

The approach we are taking matters just as much as the objective itself. Iran is not a nation that responds to pressure through submission. History shows a willingness to absorb extreme loss rather than yield under external force. Bullying will not work. It will not produce compliance — it will produce resistance, escalation, and a deeper commitment to conflict.

We have already seen the consequences of engaging an adversary without fully accounting for how they will respond. History shows that when nations or groups are willing to absorb extreme loss rather than surrender, conflict often leads to scorched earth outcomes — where infrastructure, resources, and stability are destroyed rather than conceded. The Iraq War is a clear example. The removal of Iraq’s government did not bring stability; it left the region destabilized, allowed power vacuums to form, and contributed to long-term conflict and environmental and economic damage, including the destruction of critical oil infrastructure. These are not contained events — they reshape entire regions and create chaos that lasts for decades.

We must also keep this simple enough to understand. The threat we face is not only large, visible weapons — it is smaller, harder-to-detect ones. Iran already has access to materials that could be used to construct a “dirty bomb,” a device designed not just to explode, but to contaminate. These types of threats do not require advanced missiles or long-range delivery systems. As proven in the September 11 attacks, attacks on the homeland can be planned over time and carried out through infiltration rather than conventional warfare. If you walk into the woods and disturb a hornet’s nest, the hornets will not stay where they are — they will follow you back to the homeland. Each strike we make, without a strategy for resolution, risks creating more enemies than it eliminates.

At this moment, we must recognize that escalation without a clear coalition, defined objectives, and an achievable exit strategy does not resolve conflict — it extends it. What is needed is a disciplined pause, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a clear, unified message: nuclear capability cannot be allowed. Beyond that, a commitment to negotiation must be established, led by someone capable of building trust and de-escalating conflict through coalition and diplomacy.

My recommendation is that our president be willing to request the assistance of Nikki Haley — to initiate an immediate ceasefire and begin negotiations with Iran. The objective should be to develop and implement the ability to control not only future advanced nuclear systems, but also the current capabilities that exist, even at the level of a dirty bomb. I cannot think of a person more qualified to carry out this responsibility. Bullying will not accomplish this mission — leadership, diplomacy, and trust will.

This is not a moment for ego. It is a moment for leadership.

— Rollin E. Trueblood, USMC (Ret.)