S8 Ep529: Gaius and Germanicus define the 21st-century conflict between the United States and Iran as a "ceremonial war," a ritualistic display of power intended to project dominance without risking total societal mobilization or mass casualties. Germanicus explain

Gaius and Germanicus define the 21st-century conflict between the United States and Iran as a "ceremonial war," a ritualistic display of power intended to project dominance without risking total societal mobilization or mass casualties. Germanicus explains that these "wars for show" rely on air dominance and precision strikes to establish authority. However, they warn that such wars are dangerous gambles that collapse if an opponent refuses to follow the "script" or if the dominant power's bluff is called by a stronger rival.
ACHILLES AND HECTOR