Escalation
The Perils Of Escalation With Russia Are Still Very Real
As Western powers continue to provide and approve Ukraine’s use of advanced weaponry against Russia, the veracity of Vladimir Putin’s deterrent threats against such provocations is increasingly called into question. ...
In The Escalation Debate, Results Matter
On December 8, President Joe Biden tried to take credit for the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria. “You know, for years, the main backers of Assad have been...
Why Restraint With Russia Won’t Work
The latest round of Russian nuclear threats has sparked renewed calls to limit military assistance to Ukraine to prevent international escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war. The Biden administration, together with...
Putin Isn’t Bluffing: Intermediate-Range Hypersonic Missile ‘Warning’
Throwing caution aside, President Biden decided to use the transition period to raise the war stakes in Ukraine. He sanctioned the U.S. military contractors to deploy inside the country, authorized...
Long-Range Strikes Won’t Deter Putin
Ukraine’s quest for permission to launch long-range strikes on Russian territory seemed to have been resolved in October when, after hearing Zelensky’s “Victory Plan,” the Biden administration decided not to...
Israel Retaliates: What’s Next?
After years of fighting a covert shadow war based on the use of proxies and clandestine operations, Israel and Iran are in a new phase of direct military conflict. This...
Israel’s Unmistakable Escalation Dominance
In the wake of Iran’s October 1 ballistic missile strike on Israel—the largest such attack in history—there has been a deepening sense of fear within the White House that Israel’s...
The Waning Pax Americana in the Middle East
Editor’s Note: The Red Cell series is published in collaboration with the Stimson Center. Drawing upon the legacy of the CIA’s Red Cell—established following the September 11 attacks to avoid...
Has Israel Crossed the Line in Lebanon?
In the past week, Israel’s invasion of Lebanon has significantly expanded, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announcing that troops have captured a Hezbollah base in the border village of...
VIDEO: The Middle East One Year After October 7
On Monday, October 7, The National Interest hosted an expert panel discussion featuring: —Greg Priddy, a Senior Fellow for the Middle East at the Center for the National Interest —Joshua...
Does Iran Still Care About its Proxies?
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched 180 missiles in “Operation True Promise II” in retaliation for recent Israeli attacks that killed the leaders of the Hezbollah and Hamas militant...
Iran’s Great Ballistic Missile Attack Gamble
On October 1, Iran launched 181 ballistic missiles at Israel. Israel was prepared for the escalation, having learned of it earlier in the day from the United States. Israel’s Home...