Trump may be using Nixon’s ‘madman theory’ – and similar infamy may await

Nixon's Vietnam strategy appears at play in Trump's Iran threats, but he may want to ponder the ex-president's fate

Donald Trump has made no secret of his admiration for Richard Nixon, Watergate and leaving office in disgrace be damned.

But the president has taken his tribute act to new levels in threatening to erase Iran as a civilization, only to step back from the brink when the Tehran regime agreed - at a price - to reopen the economically vital strait of Hormuz.