07/03/2026
Did America Shoot Itself in the Foot in the Middle East?
Great powers rarely decline because of weakness; they decline because of strategic miscalculations. The latest U.S. escalation with Iran risks becoming one such moment.
For decades, the United States shaped the political and security order of the Middle East. Yet entering another major confrontation in the region may ultimately weaken that influence rather than strengthen it. Military superiority can win battles, but it does not always secure geopolitical wisdom.
A growing perception across the world is that Washington’s policy in the region is increasingly driven by Israel’s strategic ambitions—including the long-discussed vision of a “Greater Israel.”
At the same time, political controversies surrounding former president Donald Trump—including speculation linked to the files of Jeffrey Epstein—have further fueled narratives that domestic political vulnerabilities may influence foreign policy decisions.
Whether these perceptions are accurate or exaggerated, their geopolitical impact is real. If this conflict deepens and America's influence erodes, historians may describe it simply:
A superpower, in trying to reshape the Middle East, may have shot itself in the foot.
