The situation involving the U.S. and Iran remains uncertain. Recently, President Trump ordered an attack on Iran’s nuclear site, and in subsequent days, he discussed potential changes in Iran’s government while expressing appreciation for Iran’s restraint in military responses. This led to a ceasefire announcement between Iran and Israel. What’s next? Honestly, it’s hard to say.
What I can say is that the U.S. shouldn’t engage in another conflict with Iran. We really don’t need another expensive war on our hands—there are already too many.
Looking back, the Tonkin Resolution of 1964 gave President Johnson broad powers to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam. This decision ultimately dragged the U.S. into a prolonged civil conflict.
During this war, about 2.7 million Americans served. Tragically, over 58,000 lost their lives, with another 300,000 wounded. The impact on Vietnam was devastating, leading to millions of Vietnamese deaths and regional instability. In Cambodia, this chaos contributed to the rise of the Khmer Rouge, resulting in a genocide that killed an estimated 1.5 to 3 million people. Financially, the war was a massive drain on taxpayers.
Ultimately, the Vietnam War was predicated on a series of falsehoods. It was revealed years later that the incident that led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution never actually happened as claimed, and the “domino theory” was unfounded.
This was a conflict that should never have taken place.
Flash forward to 2002, when I was in Congress and witnessed the media and politicians push hard for war against Iraq and its then-leader, Saddam Hussein. I was repeatedly told that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction and that we had to act fast to prevent a nuclear threat to the U.S.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was among those advocating for action against Iraq. He claimed that removing Saddam’s regime would yield positive results. Similarly, President Bush insisted on a preemptive strike, arguing we couldn’t wait for definitive proof, like a mushroom cloud.
When the U.S. invaded Iraq—against my vote—an almost-decade-long sectarian conflict ensued. No weapons of mass destruction were found, and it became clear that the war was built on falsehoods. It cost 4,500 American lives, left around 32,000 injured, and squandered 3 trillion taxpayer dollars. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis also lost their lives, contributing to lasting instability in the region.
Wars often have dire and unforeseen consequences. They should truly be considered only as a last resort.
We should avoid conflict with Iran.
Now, let’s address something clear: Trump’s actions against Iran are unconstitutional. Only Congress can authorize war, not the president.
Moreover, Iran does not represent a military threat to the U.S. Just months ago, Trump’s National Intelligence Director testified that American intelligence finds no evidence of Iran actively building nuclear weapons. Thus, the justification for a preemptive strike simply isn’t there.
Additionally, U.S. foreign policy should not be dictated by Netanyahu. If Israel hadn’t initiated its unprovoked attack on Iran, Trump’s response may not have occurred. It’s essential to remember that actions originating in Israel should not obligate the U.S. to engage in war.
We also should reconsider any military alliances with the Netanyahu government. His administration has faced significant accusations regarding its treatment of Palestinians. With thousands of Palestinian lives lost and countless injuries, the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate. Aerial attacks on Gaza have devastated infrastructures like homes and hospitals, and humanitarian aid has been largely obstructed.
This conflict transcends mere relations between Israel and Iran; it involves fundamental issues regarding international law and resolving disputes without force. Regardless of one’s views on Iran’s government, Netanyahu’s actions violate both international law and the UN Charter.
There should be clear consequences for nations that engage in aggressive actions without provocation. The international community has condemned Russia for its behavior toward Ukraine, and similar condemnation is warranted for Israel’s actions against Iran. The U.S. should not support these unlawful activities.
Lastly, war comes with exorbitant costs. In a time when American families are grappling with crises in housing, healthcare, and education, resources should go toward improving lives, not funding unnecessary conflicts.
Last year, the U.S. provided Israel with $22 billion in military support—that’s more than enough. It’s simply unacceptable to keep financing this conflict while neglecting the needs of our own citizens.
