Iran: A Just War Or Another Quagmire? – OpEd |
There will always exist Americans who, however well- or ill-intentioned, will oppose war in any form at any time with a stubborn consistency. Others can be counted on to support almost any contemplated military adventure, no matter how risky. For the rest of us, going to war, especially starting one, is a proposition entirely dependent on the circumstances in play. And so we find ourselves at a historic inflection point, another of those crossroads in world history. And unlike the seven men who preceded him in the Oval Office — from Jimmy Carter to Joe Biden — President Donald Trump has chosen to take the road less traveled. Operation Epic Fury in Iran is, like all wars, a road ripe with unforeseeable potholes, far from the comfortable superhighway of denial, delay, and appeasement driven by presidents over 47 years.
But will it lead us down the road to a lasting peace or a dead end?
How Is Iran Different From Iraq and Afghanistan?
With two failed wars already in the books in the first quarter of the 21st century, Americans have famously become war-weary. Though public opinion will likely fluctuate based on events on the ground, early indications are that the people are wary at best of this latest conflict. Only 27% of Americans support the war, according to a flash poll from AP-NORC, with another 30% saying they are unsure.
This begs an abiding question: How much should public opinion drive the process of military engagement? To what degree should it be relevant to the........