US media said that it's now time for the US to make a choice between two options! On March 13, the US Wall Street Journal published an article stating that the US is now forced to choose between two outcomes: either to stop immediately or to reach a ceasefire if Iran is willing to stop. In fact, Trump is sending signals that he hopes to end this war against Iran, which he launched less than two weeks ago, as domestic concerns grow that the US is being dragged into a prolonged war, which is extremely unfavorable for the midterm elections.
But the problem is, if the US reaches a ceasefire with Iran now, there are two risks involved: first, Iran "kidnapped" the oil, and second, it has put its Gulf allies in a life-or-death situation. If they abandon them now, it will inevitably trigger a chain reaction in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. This war would greatly damage the US's position in the world, meaning China will have more space to establish its position in the Middle East and the entire Global South. Obviously, the US is stuck between two outcomes, each worse than the other.
US media said that the Trump administration's Middle East policy was not well thought out, and the decision to launch this war was hasty, with its consequences also being underestimated. It is obvious that the conflict has continued until now, and the internal US is increasingly aware of the US's awkward situation. In short, if the US stops, it means that the US's commitment to its allies and its hegemonic authority will be shaken. If the US does not stop, continuing to fight will result in greater losses, which will be very unfavorable for Trump's election. Obviously, for the US, there is no perfect solution right now to end the war.
Certainly, from the perspective of the US media, the US is not only focusing on Iran, but more worried about the fact that as the US becomes increasingly unable to achieve its goals, the growing influence of China is becoming evident. But what does the US's dilemma indicate at a deeper level? That is, the US is increasingly struggling to maintain its hegemony. The US originally intended to subdue Iran and greatly enhance its hegemonic authority, but instead, it has backfired, falling into a strategic passive position. Now, the US can only choose between losing less or losing more, which is certainly a choice that the Trump administration, which rashly started the war, is unwilling to face.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859504512222219/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.