A brief history of how countries sleepwalk into war

By John P Ruehl – Asia Times

Protected by two vast oceans and overwhelming military power, the US has long been able to separate everyday life from the consequences of war and shield policymakers from public scrutiny. The casualties in the current conflict remain relatively low, with the latest Iranian strike bringing the official number of US deaths to 18. Life at home has continued largely uninterrupted, with the US even cohosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup during the conflict.

But the war has already outlasted initial expectations.