THE FUTILITY OF WAR
Both the US-Israeli war on Iran and the Russian war against Ukraine are going badly for the attackers. Iran has not surrendered despite US battering and Ukraine has not surrendered despite Russian battering. Iran has struck back at countries in the Middle East hosting US bases, such as Qatar and Bahrain. It has fired on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Ukraine has struck Russian-occupied Crimea with drones, hitting Russian military units, railway stations and power plants. Ukraine has even struck oil installations near Moscow. It has killed at least 200,000 Russian soldiers.
War has always been a risky option. In an era of war by drone and ballistic missile it may have become a futile and even a losing option.
Sources: Brookings Institution, article by Fiona Hill, 6/8/26 and The Economist, 6/27/26