Dear friends,
I’m sure you’ve seen the news of a two-week ceasefire with Iran. While talks are fragile and still shifting, I want to share a few thoughts on this war.
Even if the ceasefire holds—which I sincerely hope it does—and negotiations lead to something lasting, the damage from this war is already clear. This is a war Trump chose, without providing any evidence of an imminent threat to the United States.
Do your support the United States’ military actions in Iran?
Tens of billions of taxpayer dollars have already been spent, and Trump is reportedly likely to seek $80-100 billion from Congress for the war. Meanwhile, I think about all the things Republicans in Congress have said we cannot afford to do to help Americans. Just a few months ago, they refused to extend health care tax credits for over 20 million Americans, and little has been done to address the high costs of housing, energy, and food.
Americans have paid billions more for gas and other essentials because of this war. Gas prices in South Carolina are now approaching $4 a gallon, and the Department of Energy expects prices to stay elevated even if the war ends.
Thirteen American troops have been killed, and 380 injured. The Trump administration left American troops and diplomats dangerously exposed as tensions rose, delaying evacuations until conditions had already worsened. Thousands of people across the region are dead.
Our relationships with key allies have been strained. Our NATO allies have refused to join offensive operations despite President Trump’s threats and criticism. The president has also made despicable threats against the Iranian people, saying on Monday, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”
Our stockpile of munitions has been drained, weakening our ability to respond to other national security threats.
Iran’s leadership is more hardline than before, not less. Iran is now earning significantly more from oil sales than before the war. They have been emboldened to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of global oil passes through, and are currently charging hefty fees for ships that pass, boosting the Iranian regime’s income.
And the economic fallout may just be beginning. Experts warn that disruptions to traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and damage to energy infrastructure could keep prices for goods ranging from oil to fertilizers elevated for months, and potentially longer.
This is what happens when a president launches a war without demonstrating evidence of an imminent threat, without clear goals, and without a strategy to achieve them. The American people learned these lessons from Iraq. Trump clearly did not.
I want to be clear: I hope these negotiations lead to real and lasting peace. And the brave men and women in our military have undeniably degraded key elements of Iran’s military capabilities.
But those gains have come with real costs. This war has strained our diplomatic relationships, further increased prices for American families, and added new instability to an already volatile region.
To believe this war has been a clear victory for America or the American people is wishful thinking.
America is worse off because of Trump’s rash actions in Iran. The American people deserve so much better.
Sincerely,
Jim