Dear editor:

I offer some opinions about the premature, Trump-declared war against Iran, with its collateral damage harming families in dozens of countries, in dozens of ways.

In February, while negotiating a new 2026 nuclear agreement with Iran, Trump and Netanyahu started a “military operation” because they “felt” or “feared” Iran might develop and use such a bomb. Republicans apparently agree.

Crucially, for the last decade Iran could not “imminently” build a functional nuclear bomb. At best, about 12-18 months would be required, although Iran could enrich the uranium part within a few months. (Comments about the international 2015 agreement overseeing Iran’s nuclear program, terminated in 2018 by Trump’s administrative decision, requires a separate letter.)

Had this war of choice not started — then no death to thousands of innocent people; no oil or economic crisis; no world chaos; no 50% national sales tax (tariffs) threatened on goods from countries aiding Iran; no need to spend $200 billion tax dollars above the trillions already appropriated to the military; no problems with the Strait of Hormuz; etc.

Instead of starting a war of worldwide impact, had we supplied Ukraine with a fraction of the munitions, defense systems and non-combat personnel used against Iran, Russia would be back to its pre-2022 borders and paying reparations. A fraction of the money spent in this war could reinstate Medicare and Medicaid cuts, health care subsidies, foreign and domestic food aid, etc.

Patriotism does not require wrapping our heads in the flag, blinding us to rash, needless or immoral killings, supposedly in self-defense. It is not treason to voice First Amendment thoughts of human decency and true peace. The people of Earth remain interdependent and interconnected. As a species we can descend into hate against our brethren, as we often do. Or we can do the harder work of rising to form a worldwide peaceful civilization. We must choose.

Dennis Reuter

Powell