Stop the War

On Saturday, February 28, the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, killing Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and other leaders. This followed negotiations to end Iran’s nuclear program, the last session just two days before the attack. (See Wikipedia’s coverage.)

The Trump administration has offered numerous and changing rationales to justify the war: ending the nuclear program, destroying Iran’s ballistic missile capability, stopping support of terrorist groups in the region, and regime change. Initially, regime change was framed as creating a democratic government; then it morphed to a Venezuelan style puppet government serving at the pleasure of Donald Trump.

Iran’s response to the surprise and ongoing attacks has stopped all shipping — oil and cargo — through the Strait of Hormuz, which will have a devastating impact on the world economy if not resumed. Seven American service men and women have been killed, some 140 injured.

A war powers resolution after the war started failed in Congress, the Republican majority largely supporting the president.

This morning, I voiced my opinion to Senators Britt and Tuberville and Representative Rogers:

On Sunday, I paid $2.99 a gallon for gas in Opelika, around $0.50 more per gallon than recent fillups. That dramatic jump is the most immediate financial impact from the president’s unnecessary war with Iran. The $1 billion per day the war is costing would have been better invested in extending the premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act policies.

I saw no compelling reason for the U.S. and Israel to start a war with Iran. Among the changing rationales, the idea of regime change is absurd. The president’s goal to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with a puppet like Delcy Rodríguez has backfired. Khamenei’s son lost his mother, wife, and father in the Israeli attack and is unlikely to bow to the president and his sophomoric offer to Make Iran Great Again. Iran’s deep ideology will trump the president’s “art of the deal.”

Seven U.S. service members have been killed so far; some 150 have been injured. The president shows little concern for the loss of American life, even less for the death and destruction in Iran.

Please stop bowing to the president and demand an end to his warmongering madness.