On Feb. 28, U.S. and Israeli military forces launched airstrikes against Iran.
The Trump administration’s stated reason for involvement was based on information President Donald Trump said he received from Israel: Iran was planning to attack Israel and was close to having the capability to create and launch a nuclear missile. The U.S. and Israel had to take preemptive measures, Trump said.
The goals were to overthrow the 40-year repressive regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and stop Iran’s efforts to enrich uranium that could be used to make a nuclear bomb.
But six months later — without any input from Congress as required by the Constitution — the war is ongoing. At least 13 Americans have been killed and U.S. taxpayers have a bill that stands at more than $60 billion.
In those first strikes, Iran’s supreme leader was killed only to be replaced by his more extreme son. And whatever uranium Iran supposedly had tucked away remains out of America’s reach.
Meanwhile, as exhausted sailors who were part of the attack aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln make their way to a port of call in Thailand, exhausted American consumers are feeling the pain of this global hostility by way of increased food and gasoline prices.
Meanwhile, Trump seems to have lost interest in the war, and this week turned his attention to disrespecting Canada, our nation’s closest ally. In addition to draconian tariffs, his latest volley with our northern neighbor included a threat to rename Lake Ontario on the shared border “Lake America.”
Earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced more sanctions against Iran. He also threatened any countries doing business with Iran that their relationships with the U.S. would be in jeopardy unless they severed ties with Iran.
Six months of war and six months of misdirection, with no plan in sight to end the war. Though Trump may not have a plan, the American people should have one.
In a few weeks, Washington voters will receive their ballots for the general election. No doubt Trump will continue to try to disenfranchise voters with attacks on mail-in voting, such as the latest attempt that will likely go before the Supreme Court within days.
Democrats in Congress must remain committed to their promises of being ready to catch and stomp on whatever the Trump administration throws at the American people. Voters must do their part and vote like democracy depends on it, because it does.
