Donald Trump continues to worsen situation with Iran, America silent
October 30, 2019
President Donald Trump’s bad policy towards Iran has increased tensions to such a point that we could be on the brink of one of the worst wars in decades. However, the U.S. political scene continues to neglect talking about it. Trump tweeted on June 2018, threatening the president of Iran Hassan Rouhani with war.
To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2018
Trump’s actions were a response to a televised event in which Rouhani stated “war with Iran will be the mother of all wars and peace with Iran is the mother of all peace.”
This began a chain of events have that have caused increasing tension in the middle east. The latest in which claims of an Iranian attack on a Saudi oil tanker have prompted discussion of war in Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Trump’s foreign policy in regards to Iran has led to disastrous decisions. The greatest error being American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. The international agreement limited Iran’s capabilities to use nuclear weapons. These and other decisions may have caused strife across the middle east.
But a war with Iran is another matter altogether. Iran is made up of rocky terrain and its coasts would be hard to enter, far different from the flat plains of Iraq.
A lot of conservatives or right leaning members would probably be against it. There is not a great reason to right now. — Evan Ekstrand
There would be other problems, Ryan Miller, a United States history teacher, added that Iran has a large enough military that it could keep the United States busy with guerrilla tactics while also attracting “Third Parties” to either aid it or join the war altogether.
In addition, the war does not have much support from the general populace. Americans remember the thousands of unnecessary deaths that came out of the war in Iraq. This is best evidenced by a Harvard CAPs/Harris survey taken in February in, which 73 percent of respondents to a survey approved of Trump not following through with a threatened retaliatory strike to Iranian activity in January.
One of the most surprising demographics who report opposing a war at the current time is many of Trump’s own voters.
Junior Evan Ekstrad, a self-styled conservative and former member of the Young Republicans, said “if it would be just as it is currently and we declare war on Iran, I believe a lot of conservatives or right leaning members would probably be against it. There is not a great reason to right now.”
Nevertheless, Trump continues on the warpath against Iran, in the latest events in this saga he has refused to meet with Iranian President Rouhani during the recent United Nations summit. Yet, despite the terrible effect the growing tensions in the Middle East could have for the U.S. most American politicians on either side of the aisle remain quiet on this issue.
“It feels further away than domestic issues do,” senior Grace McDonough, a member of the young Democrats, explained. “And so it seems less important to talk about because it isn’t a part of your daily life. You’re thinking less about the Iran nuclear deal than you are about taxes, education or health care. That’s a more your immediate thought.”
While it may not be a popular to support a non-interventionist, anti-war platform, it is nonetheless necessary for young people to step up, as they have with a multitude of other issues, and call for those in power to attempt a detente with Iran.
If we do not make anti-war policies a major issue in the upcoming election, we can only expect another disastrous war in the Middle East. But this time, there will be far more bodies and broken countries than we saw as a result of intervention in Iraq.
Lucas Polucha • Nov 13, 2019 at 9:41 pm
Without a question, war with Iran would result in an eventual American defeat. We should have learned our lesson in Vietnam. We are still learning it in Afghanistan and Syria. Right now, it seems like we are in a war on peace.
Your widespread use of graphics and outside information really supports the logical opposition to war, and your use of Conservative sources in opposition proves that this is really a non-partisan issue, and how you describe the warpath by listing the various diplomatic choices of the Trump administration aid in your argument.
Olivia Wavamunno • Nov 13, 2019 at 12:35 pm
A lot people in this country are so blinded by the promises that Trump makes, that they fail to see just how much damage he is doing to this country. As a president a lot of the things he does are very inappropriate. I fear for this countries future.
Austin Fierro • Nov 12, 2019 at 9:05 am
I agree completely. Not enough people are talking about this. I have an overall neutral attitude towards the President, but things like this could put the entire country in danger.