While Washington remains locked in partisan battles, America’s adversaries are preparing for a different kind of conflict—one that doesn’t require tanks or declarations of war. That’s the stark warning from a new American Thinker op-ed arguing the U.S. is sleepwalking into an era of ‘total war’ as internal divisions leave it vulnerable to coordinated attacks on multiple fronts.
The Invisible Battlefield
The piece, authored by Allan J. Feifer, contends that traditional notions of warfare are dangerously outdated. China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea aren’t waiting for gunfire to begin their assault; they’re already waging war through economic coercion, cyber operations, technological theft, and the exploitation of America’s social fractures. ‘By the time Americans recognize what is happening, it may be over,’ Feifer writes.
A Divided Superpower
The essay paints a grim picture of American vulnerability, arguing that political infighting and short-term thinking have left the country unable to mount a coherent defense. While adversaries plan decades ahead, U.S. leaders focus on election cycles, allowing critical industries and supply chains to fall under foreign control. ‘We debate individual provocations while missing the larger pattern,’ the author warns.
Lessons from Ukraine and Beyond
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine serves as a case study in how determined adversaries will absorb massive losses to achieve strategic goals, the piece argues. Meanwhile, Iran demonstrates how weaker nations can impose disproportionate costs through asymmetric warfare. China’s approach—more subtle but equally dangerous—focuses on technological dominance and supply chain control as pathways to global influence.
Europe’s Cautionary Tale
Feifer points to Europe’s military dependence on the U.S. as a warning for America’s future. Decades of underinvestment in defense left European nations scrambling when Russia attacked Ukraine. The op-ed suggests America risks following this path as political leaders prioritize domestic spending over military readiness and industrial capacity.
A Call to Wake Up
The essay concludes with a blunt assessment: America must either confront its weaknesses and restore national purpose, or wait for adversaries to force the issue. ‘History suggests the latter will be considerably more painful,’ Feifer writes. The piece frames current global tensions not as temporary challenges, but as the opening moves in a prolonged struggle for which the U.S. remains dangerously unprepared.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/11/total-war-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/