Nadim Shehadi

The US is largely winning the war with Iran, but may end up losing it at home, both for domestic reasons and for failing to convince its allies of the danger Iran can pose to them.

In the confrontation between the US and Iran there will be a winner and a loser, and all the options are difficult: the dilemma effectively is between capitulation and escalation. In the past, Washington capitulated, twice. What might be different this time?

It is not a coincidence that Iran is firing missiles at the Arab Gulf states. The fundamental difference between them is what this current war is really about. They represent two opposing worldviews, one based on a militant and radical version of Islam and the other on a liberal practice.