Escalation trap visible in Gulf conflict By Robert A. Pape | CHINA DAILY | Updated: 2026-03-19 07:45

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202603/19/WS69bb3920a310d6866eb3e913.html Modern wars rarely begin with leaders intending to fight long, costly conflicts. More often they begin with limited objectives and confidence that escalation can be controlled. But history shows that actions meant to force an opponent to back down instead trigger retaliation that widens the conflict. What begins as a limited campaign gradually expands in scope, geography and stakes. I call this dynamic the escalation trap — a situation in which each side's attempt to gain advantage pushes both deeper into a conflict neither originally sought.