As tensions escalate in the Middle East, security experts are urging U.S. policymakers to reflect on the catastrophic consequences of the 2003 Iraq War before pursuing military action against Iran. William Hartung, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, warns that strikes targeting Iranian assets risk repeating history through unintended escalation and human suffering.
"The Iraq War was sold as a quick victory but became a generational burden," Hartung told KhabarAsia. "A trillion-dollar price tag, destabilized regional order, and hundreds of thousands of lives lost should make us question claims of surgical precision in new conflicts."
Hartung emphasizes that Iran's advanced military capabilities and regional proxy networks make retaliatory strikes against U.S. forces or allies highly likely. Such exchanges could rapidly expand into multi-front hostilities, complicating Washington's strategic goals amid existing challenges like the Red Sea shipping crisis and stalled nuclear negotiations.
For business leaders, the analysis highlights potential risks to global energy markets and supply chains. Academics note parallels in pre-war intelligence assessments, while diaspora communities recall the human costs of prolonged Middle Eastern conflicts. Travel advisories may require updates if regional instability intensifies.
As debates continue, Hartung advocates for diplomatic solutions: "Twenty years later, we're still treating the symptoms of the Iraq War's fallout. Let's not create new ones."
