Another Waterloo For America: Iran’s Geopsychology At Play In The Middle East Crisis – OpEd |
President Donald Trump committed an egregious strategic blunder by attacking Iran without adequately grasping the nuances of the “geopsychology” of Iran. Geopsychology denotes “the mental makeup and behavioral patterns of the people, including ruling leaders and influential sections that hail from a specific geographical area. Their mindset and conduct carry an imprint of their perceptions, prejudices, and beliefs based on common religion, common ethnicity, and shared historical experiences” (Jain, The Geopsychology Theory, p.14). Iran’s geopsychology is rooted in its unique geographical position, cultural heritage, civilizational values, Persian history, national identity, and the psyche of its people.
Moreover, Trump underestimated Iran’s tenacity, resilience, and both its material and moral strength. A significant majority of Americans have voiced strong opposition to the U.S. war against Iran, questioning its legitimacy. Meanwhile, Trump, trapped in the Hormuz Strait, appears increasingly restless to get out of the Iran conflict by any means necessary.
Trump’s threat to wipe out Iran’s civilization and reduce it to the ‘Stone Age’ has only added fuel to the fire, strengthening the resolve of Iranian society and leadership to resist the United States and Israel. Iran is well aware that America might deploy thousands of Marines, along with more battleships and additional forces, with the aim of defeating it and forcing surrender. Yet the Iranian leadership and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have delivered a firm and unequivocal message: they are prepared to fight to the last drop of their blood rather........