THE WAR NOBODY WANTS
Time|February 26, 2024
The U.S. is creeping toward war in the Middle East. A drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan on Jan. 29 killed three American troops and injured 34 others. A militia supported by Iran claimed responsibility. In retaliation, President Joe Biden ordered 85 strikes in Iraq and Syria and promised more to come, a dangerous escalation that could spiral out of control. Are Americans ready for war? Not at all.
WILLIAM WALLDORF
THE WAR NOBODY WANTS

Pro-Israel sentiments aside, the U.S. public and its leaders are deeply divided today about Middle East policy. War will not only lead to recession and drain U.S. resources to the benefit of China, but rifts at home could also do harm to U.S. foreign policy for years to come. It's time, then, for Biden to de-escalate tension and push Israel toward peace.

Each major U.S. war since 1900 was buoyed at its outset by a big story that research shows galvanized national consensus and buy-in to the costs of war. A story about the existential danger of Soviet expansion and stopping communism brought robust initial support for wars in Korea and Vietnam. In the 2000s and 2010s, the big story was about Sept. 11 and defeating terrorism. The "war on terror" narrative helped generate strong initial public support for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan (88% in 2001) and Iraq (70% in 2003).

This story is from the February 26, 2024 edition of Time.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 26, 2024 edition of Time.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TIMEView All
TV SHOWS
Time

TV SHOWS

An artistic triumph. A record-breaking 18 Emmy wins. An all-time viewership high for FX.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 30, 2024
MOVIES
Time

MOVIES

If you read only the synopsis of Babygirl before seeing it, you might imagine it's an erotic age-gap thriller about the workplace power dynamic between men and women.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 30, 2024
BOOKS
Time

BOOKS

Percival Everett's reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which won a National Book Award, is a sweeping story centering on Jim, the enslaved sidekick in Mark Twain's classic adventure tale.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 30, 2024
ALBUMS
Time

ALBUMS

Singer Beth Gibbons hasn't released much music in the 30 years since her iconic band Portishead stormed out of the gate with seminal trip-hop record Dummy. Nor has she spoken to the press much, gaining a reputation for intense privacy.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 30, 2024
PODCASTS
Time

PODCASTS

The most engrossing podcast Dan Taberski has produced since Missing Richard Simmons, Hysterical investigates a mysterious illness that spread among high school girls in Le Roy, N.Y., beginning in 2011, in what is believed to be the largest case of mass hysteria since the Salem witch trials.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 30, 2024
Elton JOHN
Time

Elton JOHN

Elton John has no address. Visitors to his home are given three names: the name of a house, the name of a hill, and the name of a town, which is near Windsor, as in Windsor Castle, where King Charles III lives.

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 30, 2024
Caitlin CLARK
Time

Caitlin CLARK

A Fever coach has tasked me with standing under the basket to retrieve her misses. But as Clark, the two-time college national player of the year for the University of Iowa, reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year from the Indiana Fever, and emergent American sports icon, runs all over the court to launch long-range bombs, I barely have to move. Swish, swish, swish. She hits 14 shots in a row. A dozen in a row. Eleven in a row. Nine in a row. Another nine.

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 30, 2024
Lisa SU
Time

Lisa SU

It's the day after the U.S. presidential election, and like much of the nation she was awake until the early hours, transfixed as the results came in, only tearing herself away once it became clear that Donald Trump had won.

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 30, 2024
Donald TRUMP-THE CHOICE
Time

Donald TRUMP-THE CHOICE

A once and future President whose influence dominated this year

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 30, 2024
Mental Health Levels Up
Time

Mental Health Levels Up

2024's progress hints at things to come

time-read
4 mins  |
December 30, 2024