As many of the American people were asleep, the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks (code name Operation Epic Fury) across Iran. Iran has also followed up with retaliatory strikes against U.S. assets and bases across the Gulf. This follows weeks of diplomatic talks in which the U.S. was unable to come to an agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear program, which the U.S. and allies have long sought to limit. This also follows a massive buildup of the largest U.S. military presence in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Make no mistake: the Iranian regime has long been oppressive of its people, including the violent suppression of thousands-strong protests earlier this year. The Iranian regime has long stood in support of terrorist proxy groups that have killed thousands throughout the region over the years. Iran should never own or try to even obtain a nuclear weapon. The Iranian regime must and deserves to collapse.
However, that does not justify the United States launching a preemptive attack upon the whole of Iran. President Trump was unable to prove substantially why the U.S. so urgently needed to unleash all-out war against Iran. He did not clearly show that there is an imminent threat to national security. Furthermore, President Trump did not ask Congress for permission to conduct military action. This administration certainly did not have the support of the American people in doing so, as only one in five Americans supported war with Iran. This new conflict, as President Trump has already stressed, poses the dangerous potential of creating American casualties. Furthermore, it does not have widespread support from America’s allies around the world.
The lives of millions in the region, the vast majority of whom have nothing to do with the monster that is the Iranian government, are being threatened because of this preemptive conflict. President Trump ought to cease hostilities with Iran immediately, as it has no authorization from Congress. If the administration continues with this war, there is the potential of mass casualties, both military and civilian, and the risk of a larger, longer conflict. On the other hand, Iran has no option but to end its nuclear programs and to end their support of terror throughout the region.
The Trump administration runs the risk of becoming yet another George W. Bush administration in this regard. The American people do not want yet another lengthy and costly war.
Emil Ordonez, a political science major at Fordham University, is the founder and editor-in-chief of Polinsights. He has been deeply passionate about politics and history since learning every U.S. President at the age of five. He was compelled to start this blog after meeting many people who were misinformed or had become apathetic about how society worked. He hopes to provide factual knowledge and insights that will encourage people, especially the young, to get more engaged in their respective communities. In his free time, he edits for Wikipedia and makes maps for elections. He aspires to work in Congress or even the White House in the future.
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