Political scientist Dominic Tierney on why the U.S. gets trapped in conflicts like Iran
NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Swarthmore College political science professor Dominic Tierney about the U.S.-Iran war and other conflicts that have left the U.S. in drawn-out entanglements.
NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Swarthmore College political science professor Dominic Tierney about the U.S.-Iran war and other conflicts that have lef
Read Full Story at NPR Politics →Why This Matters
The U.S. military’s history of prolonged engagements—from Iran to Vietnam—reveals a systemic pattern of strategic overreach that often outlasts initial objectives. This dynamic reshapes America’s global credibility, influencing how allies and adversaries alike gauge its willingness to commit to long-term commitments. Understanding why these conflicts persist is essential to evaluating the country’s future role in international crises.
Background Context
Decades of U.S. military interventions, particularly in the Middle East, have been marked by shifting rationales—from containment during the Cold War to counterterrorism post-9/11—while consistently underestimating the costs of prolonged occupation. The 1979 hostage crisis in Iran set a precedent for asymmetric warfare, where non-state actors exploited America’s vulnerabilities, yet the U.S. often repeats the same missteps in its response strategies.
What Happens Next
The Biden administration’s approach to Iran—balancing deterrence with diplomatic off-ramps—faces pressure from hawkish factions advocating for stronger military posturing, risking a new cycle of escalation. Meanwhile, Iran’s evolving proxy networks in the region could force the U.S. into reactive engagements, while domestic political fatigue may constrain Washington’s willingness to sustain another large-scale conflict. The coming year will test whether Washington can break its historical pattern of entrapment.
Bigger Picture
The U.S. has repeatedly fallen into the trap of open-ended conflicts because of a mismatch between its global ambitions and the limits of its interventionist tools. This trend intersects with the rise of hybrid warfare, where adversaries exploit legal, economic, and cyber domains to weaken American resolve without direct confrontation, forcing a reevaluation of traditional military strategies.
