When the Soviet Union lost the Cold War, it did not become an occupied territory with American occupiers handling Russian slaves. Instead, the Soviet Union lost its global power status, and communism lost its worldwide influence. Similarly, when the United States lost the war in Vietnam, America did not sign a surrender document, nor did Ho Chi Minh march in the streets of Hanoi dictating terms of defeat. It is the fall from grace that hits powerful states harder than actual defeat as understood in wars between non-nuclear armed countries, where territories are lost, surrender terms are dictated, a future leader is installed, and the defeated state's constitution is rewritten.
From any rational approach, the United States and Israel are the actual losers of the war with Iran. Although important Iranian leaders have been assassinated and Iran's economy has been choked by sanctions and economic terrorism, what Iran has achieved and what the US and Israel have lost is worth attention. Iran has practically demonstrated that it is not impossible to fight back against the strongest military power in history. More important than powerful weapons and money is the will and bravery of a nation. That is what Iran has taught the world, and that must be extremely disturbing for those who want to rule the world and steal its resources. The Shia population of Iran has proven true to the history of their religion, where Imam Hasan and Imam Hussein stood firm and fought bravely against a mighty army.
What Israel has lost
Israel has lost the unshakeable bond that many Americans felt with the Zionist state. An increasing number of Americans are totally against Israel's actions of killing innocent people in Gaza, bombing Lebanon, and attacking other neighboring countries. Images of dead children brutally killed by the Israeli army with missiles over which the IDF had put their signatures, taking pride in killing children, have caused the American people to question their unquestionable love and support for this mad country. Criticizing Israel inside America used to be a career-killing act in politics, academia, journalism, and movies. Today, any celebrity or journalist who criticizes Israel becomes one of the most revered and followed personalities.
Zohran Mamdani's election
The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York is a big testament to that shift. New York is where there are many Jews. New York is where 9/11 happened. Yet, a Muslim man winning such a crucial election despite being critical of Israel is a strong slap in the face of Israel. Mamdani showed that you can be critical of Israel and still succeed in American politics.
What the United States has lost
The United States has lost what American war hawks always label as credibility—meaning if America threatens a country, it must make good on that promise or risk humiliating itself. That is exactly what Netanyahu did to America by dragging Trump into this war with Iran. Trump has threatened Iran countless times with words such as "a whole civilization will die tonight" and so forth. He also told Israel several times to stop attacking Iran, which Israel ignored, making America look ridiculous. The American credibility as defined by war hawks and as seen by oil-rich Gulf countries—who rely on the American promise to come to their rescue if things go south—is now in question after Trump attacked Iran. The Gulf countries are likely to look elsewhere for their security because they heard the American ambassador in Israel, Mike Huckabee, loud and clear when he said, "It would be fine if they took it all," referring to the Greater Israel project where Israel would take over more land in the region.
In a nutshell, America is trusted much less on the global stage today, and Israel is not loved as before inside America.
