The military campaign to topple the Iranian regime, launched on February 28, draws on a playbook developed by past presidents, including Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. This strategy is reminiscent of Reagan's confrontation with Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi in the 1980s, which marked the first U.S. standoff with a rogue state. The strategy also traces its roots to Reagan's strikes against the Libyans, the villains of the 1985 blockbuster movie. Reagan's national security team had branded Gadmafi an “international troublemaker” since late 1981, focusing its alarm on his intentions to produce or acquire nuclear weapons. The longest phase of Operation Desert Storm was a prolonged air campaign against targets throughout Iraq, similar to the current effort.