In 2003, the U.S. sought broad international support for the Iraq war, consulting allies and preparing public opinion. Today, President Trump’s Iran confrontation lacks such diplomacy. A heavily guarded compound near Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs burned during the 2003 ‘shock and awe’ campaign, marking the war’s start.

Now, the U.S. has not informed European or regional allies before targeting Iran, risking NATO fractures. Trump’s call for Strait of Hormuz nations to aid the operation highlights isolation, as Europe views the war as illegal and avoids direct involvement.