The American magazine "Newsweek" published an article stating that at a time when the United States is throwing its weight behind Israel, and at a time when Iran is helping to arm the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Lebanese Hezbollah, some critics say that we are on the verge of a third world war.

But the author of the article, Joseph Epstein - an analyst and researcher specializing in Middle East affairs - disagrees with this opinion, and believes that World War III has already begun.

Washington may be in denial, but Russia, China, and Iran are openly at war with the United States, according to the author of the article.

This is not an all-out war - as Epstein says - but rather a decentralized war with battle fronts that seem unconnected and extending across the continents of the world. It is a war fought by “hybrid” methods, that is, with tanks, planes, disinformation campaigns, political interference and cyberwarfare.

Epstein claims that the strategy of this war blurs the lines between war and peace, combatants and civilians, and “adds to its fog.”

Although there are differences between China, Russia, and Iran on many issues, they are all countries with the same goal, which is “riding their regions of American influence and creating a multipolar global governance system.”

The writer continues, saying that Tehran, Beijing, and Moscow realize that American political and military power is the only force preventing them from imposing their will on their neighbors.

He explains what he means by that, saying that each of the three countries plays a role in this war. China launched an “unprecedented” spying campaign against the United States, and Russia spent billions of dollars broadcasting pro-Russian and anti-Western propaganda campaigns inside and outside its borders.

As for Iran, according to the article, it has a network of armed agents who “spread havoc and destruction” in the Middle East and have been openly attacking American forces.

Gang wars

Iran, Russia, and China have all “conducted or nearly carried out” cyberattacks on critical U.S. infrastructure. These three countries resort - according to the article - to waging different types of guerrilla wars “because they cannot win a direct conflict” with the United States. This is because waging war in this “deceptive” way helps it avoid accountability.

In information warfare, the strategy does not lie in creating divisions, but rather in exploiting and playing on existing ones, according to analyst Epstein, who adds that both China and Russia have continued to establish relations with “extremists” on the left and right based in the West, “hoping to widen the social gap and exacerbate the situation.” Instability".

Officials involved in this type of war use language that appeals to "extremists." The writer gives an example of this with Russian President Vladimir Putin, “who, despite his colonial invasion of Ukraine,” declared himself “the leader of the anti-colonial liberation movement.”

As the war of words continues, so do the armed confrontations. Russia invaded Ukraine. Iran's agents continue to attack the United States and its allies in the region.

Epstein claims that the administration of US President Joe Biden seems happy so far to allow them to “escape this impasse,” noting that after Hamas’ attack on Israel last month, American officials were quick to claim that there is no evidence of Iran’s involvement in the attacks, even though Its agents do not act independently on matters affecting Iran's "geopolitical" strategy.

When it comes to this war, the United States seems indifferent. The American strategy has always revolved around preparing for a major conventional war, adopting a policy of containment, and weak deterrence, as the article put it.

The writer warns that avoiding conflict will only lead to more aggression from the Iran-Russia-China axis. Therefore, if the Biden administration continues on its “ineffective” path, these three countries will become emboldened. If it fails to support Israel or Ukraine, China will likely invade Taiwan.

He concludes by saying that deterrence is a great strategy, but it will only work when the other party realizes that you are serious about implementing your threats.

Source: Newsweek