By Will Walldorf
Involvement in a broader war in the Middle East would not only bring serious economic pain and strategic overstretch to the United States, but, given the unpopularity of war at home, it would also create a degree of national disillusionment that would do significant damage to Americans’ willingness to protect sea-lanes going forward. In short, too much commitment to principle today might kill the U.S. commitment to principle tomorrow. To avoid this, the United States needs to take three pragmatic steps: adopt a firm defensive strategy in the Red Sea, reduce targets for proxy attacks, and push Israel toward a ceasefire in Gaza.
This piece was originally published by Stimson Center on February 16, 2024. Read more HERE.