Republished with full copyright permissions from The Washington Daily Chronicle.

The recent drone attack at a U.S. base in the Middle East has thrust the United States into a precarious position, with President Joe Biden vowing retaliation. However, with the American public and its leaders divided over Middle East policy, the prospect of a conflict threatens to have far-reaching consequences, both at home and abroad.

The absence of a unifying national story for deep Middle East engagement, particularly in the context of war, is a critical factor. With the decline of the anti-terrorism narrative and public weariness of prolonged conflicts in the region, the U.S. finds itself without a compelling reason to engage deeply in the Middle East, particularly through military intervention.

This lack of a unifying narrative is clearly reflected in public sentiment. Polls indicate widespread concern about the potential for being drawn into war, with a majority advocating for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. President Biden’s efforts to rally the nation and garner support for his approach have not yielded the desired results, as public approval of his handling of the crisis remains low.

Furthermore, opposition to the administration’s approach is not limited to a particular demographic or political ideology. Both young voters and progressive Democrats, as well as influential voices within the Republican Party, express reservations about further military involvement in the region.