<
https://theconversation.com/middle-east-conflict-looks-increasingly-like-a-war-nobody-can-win-281253>
"Let’s begin with a simple question that rarely gets a straight answer: what
would victory over Iran actually look like? In Washington and Jerusalem, the
answers tend to sound definitive: eliminate Iran’s nuclear capability, break
its regional power, perhaps even force political change at the top. It’s the
language of decisive war, the kind with a clear endpoint.
But shift the perspective to Tehran, and the definition changes completely.
Victory, for Iran, is survival. That asymmetry shapes the entire conflict. In
wars like this, the side that needs less to claim success often has the
advantage – and, right now, Iran needs far less.
There is no denying the military imbalance. The US and Israel can strike with
extraordinary precision and reach. They have demonstrated that repeatedly –
targeting infrastructure, leadership and strategic assets.
But tactical success has yet to translate into political outcome. Iran’s state
hasn’t fractured. Its governing system remains intact, and its networks –
military, regional, ideological – continue to function. Even its most sensitive
capabilities, including nuclear expertise, remain resilient.
The deeper miscalculation lies in assuming Tehran is playing the same game as
Washington. It isn’t. Iran is not trying to defeat the US or Israel outright.
It is trying to outlast them, complicate their objectives and raise the cost of
progress until it becomes unsustainable.
This logic is visible in how the conflict has unfolded. The battlefield extends
beyond direct confrontation into shipping lanes, energy markets and regional
alliances. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are not incidental – they are
pressure points with global consequences."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
