Earlier Saturday morning, February 28, 2026the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran began. The Pentagon confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader was killed as a result of the bombing, along with 40 other high-ranking Iranian officials. Memories of the United States War with Iraq, come to mind. Since the 1980s, U.S. military involvement in the Middle East has focused on maintaining regional stability, securing oil reserves, and combating terrorism, shifting from direct interventions—like the 1991 Gulf War and 2003 Iraq War—to, more recently, proxy warfare, drone strikes, and countering Iranian-backed forces. (Wilson Center +3)
Key conflicts and engagements include:
- Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988): The U.S. maintained a policy of “dual containment” attempting to ensure neither side gained enough influence to challenge U.S. interests.
- Gulf War (1990–1991): Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the U.S. launched Operation Desert Shield/Storm, leading a coalition to expel Iraqi forces.
- Iraq War / Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2011): The U.S. invaded Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein, initiating a long-term occupation and counter-insurgency effort.
- War in Afghanistan (2001–2021): Initiated after the 9/11 attacks to dismantle Al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban.
- Syrian Civil War and ISIS (2014–Present): U.S. forces intervened to fight ISIS, resulting in ongoing, often indirect, military presence and drone strikes.
- Regional Proxy Conflicts (2010s–Present): The U.S. has supported regional allies, such as in the Yemen conflict, and engaged in rising tensions with Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. (Wilson Center +4)
According to the taxpayer-funded news site NPW on March 15, 2011, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Egyptians to revolt against those in power. Clinton told Egyptians that “this moment of history belongs to you,” and they should use it to build on the success of the revolution that ousted the country’s longtime autocratic leaders and to embrace democratic reforms.
“Today, Egypt is rising. Egypt, the mother of the world, is now giving birth to democracy,” Clinton said.
Scenes of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak being beaten by the crowds and carried bloodied by Egyptian rebels through the streets of Cairo. Clinton served as Secretary of State during Obama’s presidency. Obama’s administration was also responsible for the o
Obama and Clinton were also involved in the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011 following a popular uprising and NATO-backed intervention. He was captured and killed on October 20, 2011, in his hometown of Sirte, marking the official end of his 42-year rule and the collapse of his regime. For some strange reason, American Presidents feel it ts there duty to spread
Throughout these decades, U.S. strategy has shifted from large-scale troop deployments to “light footprint” operations, focusing on supporting local partners, providing intelligence, and conducting targeted strikes. The overarching goal remains preventing a hostile power from dominating the region’s energy resources and ensuring the security of allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia. World Politics Review +3