Since 1945, it has been understood that the United States can destroy almost any country it chooses. The calculation grew more complicated once the Soviets acquired their own nuclear arsenal, but not that complicated. The basic reality remained: America possesses the ability to level a nation with little risk to its own population.
That is why it is striking to hear Donald Trump or Pete Hegseth discuss the conflict with Iran. When asked about the quarrel, they immediately cite the damage the United States has inflicted — how thoroughly Iran has been “pummeled,” how effectively American forces have struck targets. Yet the Strait of Hormuz is not freely flowing, and the Iranian regime remains firmly in control.
Since 1945, war has ceased to be a contest of destruction. If Russia cannot compel Ukraine to surrender, or the United States cannot compel Iran to surrender, that is precisely the point. Modern conflict is not about whether you can devastate your opponent. Everyone already knows you can. The question is whether you can do so in a way that allows life — political, economic, and human — to continue afterward.
Victory is no longer measured by the damage you inflict, but by the stability you can create.
These are lessons we once believed we had learned. It appears we still have a way to go.