Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has published an article discussing America’s strategy toward Iran, arguing that targeting critical infrastructure is both lawful and necessary, reports Gazeta Express.
In his piece, titled “Peace Through Force: Why Targeting Iran’s War Machine Is Legal and Necessary,” Pompeo asserts that such actions are a proven method to end conflicts and save lives, citing historical examples to support his argument.
Pompeo specifically referenced the 1999 Kosovo campaign, noting NATO airstrikes against Serbian infrastructure aimed at weakening the command of then-President Slobodan Milošević. He emphasized that these measures, supported at the time by many current critics, were intended to end the conflict and prevent further civilian casualties.
“During the Kosovo campaign in the late 1990s, NATO forces – backed by enthusiasm from many of today’s loudest critics – struck Serbia’s electrical grid to break Milošević’s command and control. In World War II, we did not limit ourselves to tanks on the front lines. We targeted ball-bearing factories in Schweinfurt and oil refineries that fueled the Nazi war machine because we understood you cannot defeat an aggressor by leaving its industrial heart intact,” Pompeo wrote.
Experts note that Pompeo’s comparison reflects a broader debate about the ethics and legality of targeting civilian infrastructure during military conflicts. The article also underscores the enduring influence of historical precedents, including the Kosovo war, on contemporary U.S. strategic thinking regarding Iran.
