Russia and China Will Learn Dangerous Lessons from America's Iran Operation
Source: "The whole world watches Iran—but Russia and China take notes | Fox News." March 1, 2026. www.foxnews.com
The Gist
The author argues that while Iran didn't learn from America's military playbook, Russia and China are taking careful notes. They'll use what they see in the Iran operation to make it much harder for America to fight future wars by stopping our military buildup early and cutting off our access to allied bases.
Conclusion
America's great-power adversaries Russia and China will draw strategic lessons from Operation Epic Fury that will make future conflicts more dangerous for the United States
Premises
- Iran failed to adapt to American military tactics despite having opportunities to study Trump's previous attacks
- Russia and China, unlike Iran, are learning entities that will study American operations
- American military operations require weeks of visible force buildup that telegraphs intentions
- American power projection depends critically on access to allied bases, particularly in Europe and the Middle East
- Historical precedent shows that military mobilization itself can become a justification for war
- America's enemies will now prioritize preventing American force massing and denying base access
- Efforts to fracture American alliances will accelerate as adversaries recognize their strategic importance
Assumptions
- Russia and China are more strategically sophisticated than Iran
- Past American military patterns will continue in future conflicts
- Adversaries will act rationally on the lessons they observe
- American alliance structure is both essential and vulnerable
- Visible military preparations are unavoidable for large-scale American operations