The many bloody conflicts of today – from Ukraine to Iran – offer enough reason for despair. But there is also a small glimmer of hope: if politicians and military officials draw the right conclusions from the events, then there may be fewer wars of aggression in the future. A basic rule of foreign policy has been in effect for more than 100 years: Anyone who starts a war is very likely to lose it – or at least cannot win it. This happens regardless of whether there is a legitimate reason for war or not.
