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American Military Involvement in Iran and Implications for Israel

(Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Irwin J. Mansdorf - There are risks for both the U.S. and Israel with U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war. For the U.S., consideration needs to be given to potential Iranian retaliation against U.S. interests and the effect this will have on the American homefront. Such retaliation can come in the form of plans the Iranians already have to attack U.S. bases in the region or even to attack U.S. allies that include Sunni states in the region. Any such action would be perceived by Americans as paying a price that they may not be prepared to pay. While there is solid base support for Israel versus Iran in the U.S., there is much less support for American military involvement. Based on studies we have conducted since the start of hostilities against Israel on October 7, 2023, we can isolate several trends related to American public opinion other than the base of support for Israel. "Both siders" hold that since no universal truth exists, there is no objective "right" and "wrong." We found about 20% of our samples in this category. Around 18% were "no siders" who come from an isolationist philosophy that is against any American involvement in outside wars. Around 40% responded with "I don't know" or "I don't care. Seeing the issues as non-existent in their daily lives, many Americans simply do not see the relevance of offering or carrying an opinion. A key question is what price is the average uncommitted American willing to pay to see a denuclearized Iran and what level of discomfort is one willing to bear toward this end. The writer is a clinical psychologist and a fellow at the Jerusalem Center specializing in political psychology.
2025-06-20 00:00:00
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