The Strategic Follies of the Islamic Republic
The past half century reveals a record not of constant brilliance, but of consistent folly.
When Western countries engage in conflict with other parts of the world, they often indulge in a kind of strategic orientalism. They attribute to the enemy extraordinary degrees of perseverance, fanaticism, cunning, and farsightedness. The war with Iran has prov...
The strongest version of this narrative is that Iran’s leadership has demonstrated a pattern of strategic incompetence, pursuing ideological goals at the expense of national interests. The regime’s decisions—from the human-wave attacks in the Iran-Iraq War to its confrontations with the U.S. and Israel—have consistently backfired, leading to military humiliation, economic decline, and domestic instability. The article effectively highlights the disconnect between Iran’s ambitions and its outcome...