The United States has been involved with the Middle East since the 1990s following the first Gulf War. I was born in 2004; there hasn’t been a time when the U.S. military was without conflict in the Middle East. The war in the Middle East can be easily avoided, yet presidents in place haven’t sought out a peaceful resolution. Generations have grown up to accept war conflicts, but the reasons politicians give for war do not make it justifiable.
On Feb. 28, the U.S. launched attacks against Iran after weeks of threats made by President Donald Trump. Hours after the attacks, it was announced that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in the attacks. This action once again pushed the U.S. into war in the Middle East. Trump’s 2024 campaign partially ran on no more “endless” wars, yet the U.S has entered another.
Trump’s reason for the attacks was that Iran posed an imminent threat to the U.S., even though there has been no actual backing for these claims. However, the damage is already done, lives have been lost and peace has become a distant thought.
The head of the National Counterterrorism Council and Army veteran, Joe Kent, resigned in protest of the war in Iran. Stating that Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation,” according to NPR.
War causes destruction and loss of life in a nation’s capital and neighborhoods, not just soldiers on the battlefield. Families are separated, regions are destabilized, and the consequences are left behind for decades in wartime. Political leaders say wars are necessary for security reasons, but the human cost is more immediate and devastating. It’s hard to justify that war abroad serves people at home.
As of March 13, more than 1,200 Iranians have been killed, and more than 3.2 million have been displaced by the war. The U.S. has also spent about $16.5 billion in the first 12 days of the conflict. Not to mention, gas prices are skyrocketing as a result. As of today, there have been no new numbers released of casualties and the cost of the war in Iran.
The attacks in Iran are just the latest in Trump’s moves in other countries. Since Trump took office, he has made threats or seemingly tasteless “jokes” about countries becoming the 51st state. It started with our northern neighbor, Canada, in which Trump continues to allude to the country becoming a state in the U.S., also stating that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is going to become “Canada's governor.”
Once again, sports are inherently political. Recently, Trump talked about Venezuela becoming a state after it won against Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He stated on Truth Social, “#51, ANYONE?”
The war in Iran continues, and Trump makes signs to start more conflicts with other countries. None of these wars or conflicts aligned with Trump’s campaign during the election, nor can they be justified in any sense.
Cassie is a senior studying communications at Ohio University. Please note the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassie? Email her at cb086021@ohio.edu.
