[January 15, 2016] At the outbreak of World War II, most of the world’s major powers were not prepared in any way for the death and destruction that was to follow. Today, we find that most senior leaders are well prepared and have learned from the failures of other leaders. Good leaders prepare for extraordinary circumstances that could develop on their watch.
Planning is key and planning for the worst-case scenario is to be expected. While this may be a simple military catchphrase, it does impart good advice to both the novice and experienced leader. This is especially true in military operations and, for example, the discovery of Weapons of Mass Destruction, genocide, or a severe humanitarian crisis can make a difference in how the battlefield is navigated.
Recent events on seas of the Persian Gulf show that the U.S. was unprepared for the “detention” of two military vessels and the holding of its crew for more than 24 hours by Iranian naval forces. While the crew and boats were returned, much of their equipment including weapons and communication gear were not returned. Humiliation of the U.S. Marines followed when pictures where shown of the disarmed crew on their knees.1
Failure to plan for and educate is tantamount to a failure of leadership in its most basic sense. Expect to see the U.S. Naval Captain responsible for the incident to undergo some level of punishment. The U.S. military reaction shows how its military has declined in the past few years. Juxtaposition this reaction with how the U.S. responded to Iranian threats against shipping in 1988 when Operation Praying Mantis was conducted under U.S. President Reagan.
Weak leadership means being unprepared and to invite even more problems; either unusual or not. When a leader prepares for unusual circumstances, that leader garners respect and admiration from everyone. Conversely scorn is heaped upon those who fail to foresee future possibilities.
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