In the wake of the uninvited arrival at the US military base in Jordan, the entire international community waited with bated breath to see how the United States would demonstrate its power. Especially after the United States took aim at Iran, the atmospheric pressure in the Middle East seemed to rise by a few hundred pascals overnight.
However, just when everyone thought that the United States would respond with a thunderbolt, the situation unexpectedly went in the other direction. The United States, the former global hegemon, seems to have become a bit at a loss. Yes, you heard it right, the dollar crisis and the Texas backlash have made the United States seem a little overwhelmed.
In the face of Iran's rise in the Middle East, although the United States hates it so much, it knows that once it completely tears its face with Iran, its foothold in the Middle East will be gone. So, after careful consideration, the United States decided to embark on a path of compromise.
The United States is said to have communicated with Iran through secret channels, trying to calm the hardliners at home with symbolic strikes on some less important targets. Oh, this is really an unimaginable change - from a hundred calls to the caution of today.
But Iran did not buy it, and directly drew a red line for the United States: if you dare to do something against Iran itself, just wait for retaliation! This puts the old Biden in a dilemma, but then again, if the United States does not make some moves in the Middle East, wouldn't the hegemony in those days exist in name only?
Therefore, the United States has turned its attention to the "soft persimmons" of the Middle East - Iraq and Syria, and seems to intend to start with these two countries in order to give an explanation to the country. Sure enough, the United States locked in new operational targets.
Today, a spokesman for the US National Security Council announced that the attack on the US military base in Jordan was the masterpiece of Iraqi anti-US forces. This time, the United States seems to have decided to abandon direct retaliation against Iran and instead point the finger at Iraq.
Although Iraq's anti-American forces are seen as "soft persimmons", let's not forget that they are no longer the small group that used to rely on home-made bombs. Both drones and cruise missiles have become their toys. It seems that it is not so easy for the United States to quietly "make a move" in Iraq.
The U.S. side also announced the results of air strikes against the Houthis, but this kind of action does not seem to pose much threat to the Houthis, and is more like a sideshow in Iraq.
The Iraqi anti-US forces immediately announced that they would suspend air strikes against the United States, which undoubtedly left a way back for the United States. But the game seems to have just begun, and the United States is ready to draw its bow and wait for the final order.
This scene reminds people of the old saying: "Once the sea was difficult to turn into water, except for Wushan, it is not a cloud." "The United States, the former world hegemon, seems to be becoming more and more cautious in this chess game in the Middle East, and even a little overwhelmed. From tough to cautious, this may be another wisdom in the great power game.