Once upon a time there was a U.S. president who had a unilateralist streak and intervened in the Middle East to prevent and eliminate a threat that was allegedly sponsoring terror, causing a diplomatic crisis with European allies. This description fits neatly how President Donald Trump has prosecuted the war against Iran, but it is also eerily similar to a U.S. president from another era: George W. Bush.
While Bush had campaigned for a “humble” foreign policy, the terrorist attacks of September 11 transformed his presidency into a hawkish one that would not tolerate risks. He ultimately invaded Iraq to eliminate alleged weapons of mass destruction and disrupt a network supposedly aiding terrorism. The Iraq War caused a rupture among NATO allies, and the insurgency it sparked – leaving the United States embroiled in a prolonged conflict – was seen as an inflection point at which the unipolar moment began to ebb.
Beyond the continuities that can be observed in U.S. foreign policy – what might be described as a never-ending obsession with the Middle East – Hattori Ryuji, a professor of political science at Chuo University in Japan, offers further insights for today’s state of affairs in his recent book on Japan-U.S. relations during the War on Terror period, “After Terrorism.” Hattori’s work highlights how an ally can turn a crisis into an opportunity to reinforce alliance unity, a lesson especially pertinent given the uncertainties surrounding the Iran conflict.
