The Dilemma of the “End of History”

Mohamed Abdel Rahim Jawish
The United States of America is a country only about 250 years old—a very short lifespan in the history of nations. Yet within this relatively brief period, it has risen to the top of the global hierarchy in economic power, military strength, and technological advancement, exerting influence over much of the world.
This remarkable achievement can be attributed to several factors, most notably its commitment to applied scientific research and innovation, as well as a strong vision and a centralised drive for superiority across all spheres of influence within society’s institutions and structures. This is particularly striking given that the basic structure of the American state relies heavily on the private sector in almost every domain—even in defence industries and services related to the Department of Defense.
Equally remarkable is the way the state often moves in a unified direction, almost as if it were governed by a single party. This reflects the ingenuity of those who designed its constitutional and institutional framework.
Yet, on the other hand, its relative lack of deep historical continuity remains a fundamental deficiency. This absence, according to the author, leaves its immense power and global dominance lacking firmly rooted moral and cultural values—qualities that typically develop over long historical periods.
In this sense, the United States can sometimes appear among nations like a newcomer to an established town or village, unfamiliar with the traditions and codes of conduct that shape behaviour.
This may partly explain why it has been involved in so many wars—losing several of them, including Vietnam, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq—and why it remains the only country to have used weapons of mass destruction in warfare, as in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Despite these experiences, it now appears to be embarking on another confrontation in Iran, one that many indicators suggest could lead it into yet another strategic impasse.
A Parallel with Sudan’s Recent War
Interestingly, the author suggests that this military venture bears some resemblance to the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) attempt on 15 April 2023 to seize control of Sudan’s government.
That attempt was believed to be a swift operation, relying on the heavy concentration of RSF forces in Khartoum. However, the planners overlooked an important factor: the historical legacy of the Sudanese army, an institution that had never previously been overtaken by an external force, unlike what occurred in several other African countries.
The “End of History” Mindset
According to the author, America’s central dilemma lies in its belief—implicit or explicit—that it represents the “end of history.”
Had it studied history more closely, he argues, it would recognise that no single power has remained dominant throughout the entire span of human civilisation since the creation of Adam. It would also understand that the use of force without justice or respect for others resembles the behaviour of predatory animals driven by instinct.
Such reflection, he suggests, might have spared the world many wars and bloodshed.
Meanwhile, as the United States becomes increasingly absorbed in conflicts—particularly those fought in support of Israel—China continues to advance economically, investing its financial surpluses in building its economy while the United States spends trillions of dollars on wars.
Edward Said and the Iranian Revolution
The late scholar Edward Said, in his influential book Covering Islam, offered an insightful observation about the American embassy staff in Tehran and the American journalists covering the Iranian Revolution of the late 1970s.
Said noted that few among them spoke Persian, highlighting a profound cultural gap.
He also recounted a curious episode: embassy staff routinely destroyed printed reports using a shredder machine before discarding them. Yet local hands retrieved the shredded fragments. In a society where traditional hand-weaving was a longstanding craft requiring patience passed down through generations, people painstakingly reassembled the fragments, reconstructing the documents piece by piece.
The result was that much of the embassy’s internal information became visible.
The hostage crisis that followed remains vivid in historical memory, including the failed rescue attempt that resulted in the deaths of eight American soldiers and led to the resignation of US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.
Lessons from History
Had Americans studied history more carefully, the author argues, they might also have recognised the Persian people’s long military tradition.
More than 1,400 years ago, a coalition gathered in the Arabian Peninsula to destroy the emerging Islamic state in Medina—in what could be described in modern terms as an attempt at regime change. Notably, Jewish tribes were part of that alliance.
At the time, all indicators of material strength suggested that the fall of Medina would take only days.
Yet when the coalition forces approached the city, they encountered an unfamiliar tactic: the trench dug around Medina—a strategy introduced by a companion of the Prophet who had come from Persia, where such defensive techniques were known.
The coalition was ultimately defeated, and the outcome marked the beginning of a new historical cycle in which an Islamic civilisation would endure for centuries.
Technology and Human Intelligence
From the current trajectory of the war, the author believes that the American–Israeli alliance may be entering a strategic impasse, driven in part by an uncritical belief in the “end of history” and a disregard for historical lessons.
Despite the deployment of the most advanced military technologies and systems developed by humanity—including those based on artificial intelligence—the unfolding events of the war, he argues, suggest a different reality.
Artificial intelligence, he concludes, has little value when placed in the hands of natural stupidity. Conversely, even modest natural intelligence in warfare can outperform sophisticated technological systems when combined with conviction, determination, and a sense of justice, free from arrogance and hubris.
In the coming days, he predicts, simple tactical innovations may emerge—strategies through which Iranian forces could gradually exhaust military systems built upon the most advanced artificial intelligence technologies.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=11949