Different kind of war | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

An Arkansas Democrat Gazette opinion argues that the U.S.-Iran conflict is fundamentally different from America’s recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The piece contrasts those earlier campaigns—described as guerrilla conflicts with ground troops facing local forces and roadside bombs—with the current clash framed as a naval war driven by drones and missiles rather than bombs and guns. It says American ground troops have not been involved so far and emphasizes the operational reality of warships spending 200 or 250 days at sea, while port calls in the Middle East are portrayed as especially dangerous because a ship in harbor would be vulnerable to coordinated drone attacks. The author cites past attacks, including the USS Cole in 2000, and notes that modern combatants have cellphones, enabling more direct communication with families between duties.