The United States finds itself once again embroiled in military conflict across the Middle East—Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan—a pattern persisting despite a majority of Americans believing the costs outweigh the benefits.
What drives this cycle of continuous warfare? Al Jazeera’s Josh Rushing investigates the structural forces at play: the pursuit of oil, a defense industry valued at $2.4 trillion, the influence of lobbyists, and a political apparatus that seldom enforces accountability.
Retired General Mark Kimmitt and journalist Spencer Ackerman join the discussion to dissect these drivers and assess whether the electorate possesses the leverage to finally halt the era of “forever wars.”
Contributors:
Mark Kimmitt – Retired U.S. Army Brigadier General and former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
Spencer Ackerman – Journalist, author, and writer of the Forever Wars newsletter
Published On 27 Oct 2026