Iran Defeated America by Mastering the Art of War
- Donald V. Watkins
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
By: Donald V. Watkins
Copyrighted and Published on April 1, 2026
An Editorial Opinion
My favorite book is The Art of War by the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu (5th century B.C.). I used the strategies and tactics taught in The Art of War throughout my legal career.
The Art of War is composed of 13 chapters. Each one is devoted to a different set of skills or art related to warfare and how it applies to military strategy and tactics.
For almost 1,500 years, this book was the lead text in an anthology that was formalized as the Seven Military Classics by Emperor Shenzong of Song in 1080. The Art of War remains the most influential strategy text in East Asian warfare and has influenced both East Asian and Western military theory and thinking and has found a variety of applications in a myriad of competitive non-military endeavors across the modern world including espionage, culture, politics, business, and sports.
The book contains a detailed explanation and analysis of the 5th-century B.C. Chinese military, from weapons, environmental conditions, and strategy to rank and discipline. Sun also stressed the importance of intelligence operatives and espionage to the war effort. Considered one of history's finest military tacticians and analysts, his teachings and strategies formed the basis of advanced military training for millennia to come.
The Iranians are Masters of Warfare
America has lost the US-Iran War. Since the war began on February 28, 2026, President Donald Trump's Department of War has been clueless on how to fight Iran in an effective manner. Its chief strategy has been bombing Iranian targets from the air.
Iran, on the other hand, has mastered the art of war against America. They employed a host of winning war strategies that sapped the strength out of Trump, who looks tired, dejected, uninterested, and defeated.
Iran’s military leadership is highly skilled in the art of war. America’s Pentagon brass is highly skilled in the art of pleasing Trump and his erratic impulses as a third-generation military draft-dodger.
In war, the most committed adversary always wins. By definition, a "draft-dodger" like Trump can never be the “most committed adversary.” That’s an oxymoron.
Iran’s civilian and military leaders are prepared to die for their country. Trump is not prepared to die for anybody or anything.
In Iran, Donald Trump has finally met his match in the art of war. Like the wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, America no longer has the appetite or will to fight long wars on the other side of the world.
Furthermore, there can be no victory in Iran without deploying American troops on the ground and engaging in years of fierce fighting. Today, more than 70% of Americans oppose sending U.S. troops to the Middle East to fight Iran for the benefit of Israel.
Likewise, an incompetent Secretary of War, particularly one who is a commode-hugging drunkard like Pete Hegseth, cannot command victorious military campaigns on any battlefield. Nobody respects this drunkard.
Iran won this war because it fought smarter. They knew how to outlast the Americans. They killed Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early in the war. AI videos and a body double are used in Israel for Netanyahu today.
Every calculation, every deployment, every doctrine initiated by the Iranians was built not to strike quickly, but to survive relentlessly. To outlast. To wait for the arrogance of others to do their work for them.
Iran was not a predictable opponent. Its power was decentralized. Its strategy was invisible to those accustomed to measuring strength by firepower, alone.
The Iranians had war plans for decades of fighting. Trump naively believed he could bomb Iran into surrendering within 2-3 days. Those who imagined a swift victory, via a heavy bombing campaign and intimidation, were sadly mistaken, totally unprepared, and stupid beyond belief.
Today, Iran is the proven superpower in the Middle East. In the final analysis, Donald Trump’s ignorance about the art of war and Pete Hegseth’s alcoholism were Iran’s best weapons.
Following Trump's announcement last night that the Iran war would continue for another 2-3 weeks, a striking warning came from Iran.
Spokesperson of the Hatemul Enbiya Headquarters, Ibrahim Zulfikari said:
"Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
As we have stated before, we declare to the American and Zionist enemies: Your knowledge about our military capacity, power, and equipment is incomplete. You know nothing about our very comprehensive and strategic capabilities.
Do not think that you have destroyed our strategic missile production centers, our long-range assault unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), our modern air defense and electronic warfare systems, and our special equipment. With such a thought, you will only deepen the quagmire you have dragged yourselves into.
The centers you think…
I have watched Benjamin Netanyahu speaking on March 20, 2026, so obviously he was not killed early in the war, if at all, and I also saw rumors of his death, which are clearly fake news.
Is Sun Tzu's warfare treatise really your absolute favorite book, or just your favorite book on war? That's a bit hard to believe given the near-infinite number of books that have been written since then. I agree that the US has lost the war, though of course Trump will never admit it, but I confess to being skeptical that Iran "killed Netanyahu early in the war." What's your evidence?
This article is simple: Donald Trump is quitting the war. He has lost interest in it. Iran outlasted the U.S., while destroying Israel at the same time. Benjamin Netanyahu's body double is alive and well, but Netanyahu is dead. The Iranians have won the war. Iran is the new superpower in the Middle East. Any other analysis on the war is bullshit. Iran did a masterful job of kicking America's ass. No nation would ever allow a drunkard like Pete hegseth to lead them into battle. End of story!