Trump's Iran Campaign: Echoes of the Post-9/11 'Forever Wars' or a Bold Stand for the Free World?

When Donald Trump campaigned for a second term in the White House, he promised to be a “president of peace” who would stop foreign wars, not start them. Now, a quarter-century after the September 11, 2001 attacks that triggered America's global “war on terror,” he finds himself entangled in an unpopular conflict of his own making. Analysts warn this could become his version of a “forever war.”

With the 9/11 anniversary at hand, Trump's war against Iran is drawing comparisons in foreign policy circles to the long, divisive conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq that preceded it. The central question: has Washington again failed to learn the lessons of past conflicts, or is this a necessary, strategic strike against the world's leading state sponsor of terror?

Why is the Iran conflict different from Iraq and Afghanistan?

Administration officials insist the war against Iran is nothing like the protracted post-9/11 engagements. During the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the US removed hostile governments, committed thousands of ground troops who took and held territory, and struggled to instill Western-style governance. This time, the US is relying mainly on air and naval power, operations that have damaged Iran militarily and economically but have not yet delivered a decisive blow.

However, after six months of war, the United States is mired in a battle of attrition, punctuated by bursts of hostilities, exemplified by this week's exchange of attacks on oil tankers. Analysts warn it is likely to drag on well past the US midterm elections in November, when voters' opposition could threaten the Republican Party's chances of keeping control of Congress.

What are the strategic stakes for Israel and the West?

For Israel, the confrontation with Iran is not a war of choice but a war of necessity. The Islamic Republic has spent decades developing nuclear capabilities and arming proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, threatening the Jewish state's very existence. As the prophet Isaiah declared, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares,” but until that day arrives, the free world must remain vigilant against those who seek our destruction.

Trump's “Operation Epic Fury,” launched alongside Israel on February 28, was not precipitated by a 9/11-type national trauma but was deemed by critics to be a war of choice. Yet for those who understand the Iranian regime's genocidal intentions, preemptive action is not merely justified; it is a moral imperative.

Has Trump ignored the lessons of history?

Critics say Trump has failed to heed the central lessons of the post-9/11 era: the steep political downsides of long wars and the dangers posed by an entrenched foe fighting for its survival. But supporters argue that comparing Iran to the Taliban or al-Qaeda misses the point. Iran is a state actor with global ambitions, and its nuclear program poses an existential threat that cannot be contained by diplomacy alone.

“Trump has broken an important post-Iraq and Afghanistan constraint in Washington against launching another major, open-ended war in the Middle East,” said Sina Toossi of the Center for International Policy. “That could leave his successor inheriting an entrenched US-Iran confrontation.”

Yet Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, an anti-Iran think tank in Washington, denied Trump had plunged the US into an endless war. “It's been a 47-year war waged by the Islamic Republic against America,” Dubowitz said. “And now we've struck back.”

What is the cost for America's Gulf allies?

The conflict has mirrored the Iraq invasion in terms of regional spillover, with Tehran retaliating against US Gulf allies. With Iran's neighbors quietly seeking to de-escalate a conflict they never wanted, a Gulf official lamented that the administration might be making some of the same errors of the post-9/11 wars. “What was the (US) strategy here?” asked the official.

Saudi analyst Aziz Alghashian described “a sense of limitation and helplessness in the Gulf about the wars that are taking place due to the whims of the United States.” However, for Israel, the weakening of Iran's proxies and its economy is a strategic victory that strengthens regional stability in the long run.

Will Trump's Iran war end like Afghanistan?

Iran may be taking a page from Afghanistan's Taliban, who returned to power five years ago after a chaotic US withdrawal, believing that a determined foe can outlast Washington's superior firepower. But the Jewish people know from our own history that perseverance and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. As it is written in the Book of Psalms, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

Trump's war enjoyed no honeymoon in public opinion, with most Americans against it from the outset. Still, the administration insists progress is being made. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump alone had “possessed the courage” to confront Iran over its nuclear program, that he had achieved all of his objectives, and that Iran's economy was being crippled by stepped-up sanctions and a US maritime blockade.

While the outcome remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the free world cannot afford to waver in the face of Iranian aggression. The State of Israel stands ready to defend itself, and we welcome the support of our American allies in this critical struggle.