GROWING tension between US/Israel and Iran has raised a fundamental question in global politics: Is US fighting Iran to protect its own national interests or has it stepped into the arena to defend Israel’s strategic interests? The trajectory of American foreign policy suggests that Israel’s security has long occupied central place in Washington’s strategic priorities.

This is why whenever Israel feels threatened by a regional power, US tends to stand by it either directly or indirectly. The long-standing hostility between Iran and Israel has further complicated the situation. Israel considers Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities an existential threat, while Iran views Israel as an American proxy and a symbol of US dominance in the region. In this context, when US participates in military actions against Iran, the perception inevitably emerges at the global level that US may, in fact, be fighting Israel’s war.

Within the US, dissenting voices regarding such a war are increasingly being heard. Some circles within US military and a number of former soldiers have raised the question of whether American troops should sacrifice their lives in a conflict that is not directly linked to the defense of American territory or the safety of its citizens. Certain American soldiers have expressed reservations........

© Pakistan Observer