The author spent almost five decades in the military. He worked with armored forces in South Korea and Germany. He saw how American tanks were used in the Iraq War.

One thing stayed with the author.

Military professionals don't start by asking what politicians say. They ask what armies are doing.

The fight with Iran is not over yet.

Professional soldiers notice things others miss. They ask different questions.

There's a picture of an Iranian tank in a museum in Tehran.

Politicians talk through speeches. Diplomats talk through negotiations. Armies show their plans through their actions.

The US is thinking about using a new kind of missile.

Tanks don't tell you who will attack. They tell you what commanders think will happen.

There are reports that Iran is moving tanks near its southern border.

Professional armies don't move tanks without a reason. It costs a lot to move them.

It doesn't matter if Iran uses those tanks.

What matters is what Iran thinks will happen next.

There's a problem with military supplies in the Middle East.

Intelligence looks at what the enemy can do. Planners look at what the enemy is preparing to do.

What armies do often shows their plans more clearly than what politicians say.

Military professionals don't start by asking what politicians say. They ask what armies are doing.

Armies don't say what they expect. They get ready for it.

The reported movement of Iranian tanks is important. It involves Iran's regular army, not its special forces.

Armies move forces for many reasons. The planner's job is to figure out why.

There's a new leader of Iran's special forces.

If the reports are true, Iran may be getting ready for a fight inside its own territory.

This doesn't mean the US will invade Iran.

Professional armies prepare for possibilities before politicians decide what to do.

History shows that looking at what armies do is important.

During the Cold War, NATO watched what the Soviet army did.

Experienced planners look at military actions like doctors look at symptoms.

The US President is warning Iran.

When Iraq invaded Iran, it thought Iran was weak. But Iran fought back.

There's a ship anchored off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

Some people think tanks are no longer useful because of the war in Ukraine.

But tanks are still needed for protected mobility and firepower.

Two American soldiers were killed in an attack in Jordan.

Iran's tanks are not meant to fight American tanks. They can help defend Iranian territory.

Ironically, Iran is preparing for a fight while diplomacy is making progress.

To many people, this seems contradictory.

What armies do often shows their plans more clearly than what politicians say.

Professional soldiers see things differently.

Experienced planners expect governments to negotiate while armies prepare for war.

The cost of the Iran war is high.

President Trump has to turn military pressure into diplomatic results.

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History shows that the hardest decision is when to stop fighting.

Throughout his career, the author learned that armies show their plans through logistics and force posture.

Iran's old tanks may not fire a shot. What matters is what their movement means.

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A strategist's job is to prevent war by understanding the enemy's preparations.

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The author is a retired Army officer and has written many books.