Global Media Focus | U.S. Media: "Iran is an imperial trap, and America walked directly into it"

Source: CGTN

The Washington Post recently published an article stating that the U.S. government’s decision to return to the Middle East is reminiscent of the strategic mistakes that led to Britain’s decline. The “war” against Iran could become the beginning of America’s fall.

The article states that for about 15 years, many U.S. leaders believed that the United States was mired in efforts to rebuild social order in the Middle East, but this was not the most urgent issue. However, now the U.S. is again engaging in war to reshape what it calls the “Greater Middle East” social order. Like the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, this war also seems unlikely to achieve the results supporters hope for.

Screenshot of The Washington Post report

Why does this keep happening? The article argues that to understand the present, we must look back at history. Britain was once the world’s only superpower. When British leaders debated strategies in Mesopotamia, they fundamentally overlooked their own economic problems and technological challenges. While Britain was fighting tribes in the Middle East and Africa, across the Atlantic, the U.S. was quietly building the most advanced industrial economy of the time; after World War I, defeated Germany was steadily rebuilding its industry and highly mechanized military system. Meanwhile, Britain, distracted by turbulent border regions, was being systematically surpassed in core strength. Ultimately, Britain lost its status as a world hegemon.

Screenshot of The Washington Post report

The article states that today’s U.S. is repeating the “imperial temptation.” The measures the U.S. takes in the Middle East ultimately come down to prioritizing limited resources. The U.S. does not have endless political capital, nor unlimited energy and military capability; economic resilience also has its limits. Every missile launched at Tehran, every drone intercepted over the Persian Gulf, and every hour government officials spend discussing Iran means diverting attention from “major challenges that will define the 21st century.”

Screenshot of The Washington Post report

The article believes that history shows great powers are often tempted by “small wars” because these give a false impression of quick political and moral victories. However, tactical wins rarely translate into strategic gains and often become the beginning of long-term depletion of national strength.

Screenshot of The Washington Post report

In conclusion, the article states that even if intervention in Iran succeeds, the U.S. will be tied to the country’s fate. But is this really the most worthwhile direction for the U.S. to invest time and effort over the next decade? The lessons from Britain’s rise and fall are clear: the decline of a superpower usually does not stem from conquest by external enemies but from overexpansion at the margins while neglecting the core.

Screenshot of The Washington Post report

Source | CGTN Global News

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