Americans must speak up against Trump's Iran strike
As a former US Army sergeant who served in Iraq, I've seen first-hand what happens when the United States enters a war without strategy, purpose or public consent.
US President Donald Trump's recent
strike on Iran's nuclear facilities is yet another example of reckless military action – one that puts American lives at risk, destabilises the region and abandons the values we claim to defend.
There was no clear or imminent threat to US national security. No congressional vote. No public debate. Bombing a sovereign nation should never be this easy – and it is wrong. We've condemned Russia for violating Ukraine's sovereignty. Yet now, we've done the very thing we claim to oppose.
This strike does not represent the will of the American people. Trump ran on a promise to end endless wars. Many Americans supported him for that reason. This decision contradicts that commitment – and it's the American public, military families and civilians abroad who will bear the cost.
We've heard the promises before – that military action would bring peace. But I was in Iraq. I saw what really happened. The invasion didn't bring order – it shattered it. It destabilised the region, empowered extremists, cost trillions of dollars, and left hundreds of thousands dead. We didn't bring peace – we left behind broken institutions and lasting resentment. Afghanistan dragged on for 20 years and ended in
chaos . Libya descended into disorder. Time and again, we were told war was necessary. Time and again, it made things worse.
Trump's strike on Iran has already set off consequences. Iran is a nation of more than 90 million people – students, workers, families – who will bear the burden. The attack has damaged infrastructure, emboldened hardliners and increased instability. American personnel across the region now face greater danger. This wasn't a defensive measure – it was a calculated escalation against a country with real military capabilities and powerful allies.
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