Analysis: What Israel’s ground operation into Lebanon drives home about America | CNN Politics

Israel 's expected ground incursion into Lebanon will drive home a new strategic reality of a year of war.

The once-mighty US is powerless to rein in its ally or influence other belligerents in a fast-worsening regional crisis.

The disconnect is widening as it coincides with the endgame of a cliffhanger US election.

Biden 's room for maneuver is limited if he is to avoid exacerbating the domestic political impact of war in the Middle East .

The last year’s events have forced the U.S. and Israel into a situation in which the critical national interests of each state as perceived by its elected leaders are in direct conflict.

Leighton: The sense that Israel is waging a battle for its survival makes it easier for leaders to justify to themselves the massive Palestinian civilian casualties from Israeli actions against Hamas and Hezbollah .

The rise of incendiary and radical leaders like Nasrallah and Hamas officials also means there are no partners on the other side open to traditional US peacemaking.

Many observers in Washington have long suspected that Netanyahu has a strong personal interest in perpetually waging war to redeem his own failure to stop the October 7 attacks.

America ’s own venomous political reality is also eroding US power in the Middle East .