Gazette-Mail editorial: Americans deserve to know more about Iran war

In 2001, American forces, along with an international coalition, invaded Afghanistan in pursuit of the al-Qaida leaders behind the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. The American people were told swift success had been achieved in dismantling the terror network's leadership, overthrowing the Taliban government and establishing security in the region. U.S. forces remained engaged in Afghanistan for 20 years and, in 2019, documents surfaced that showed top administrators from the George W. Bush administration had known as early as six months in that the war wasn't winnable. Osama bin Laden, the head of al-Qaida and the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, was eventually killed by U.S. Navy SEAL forces in 2011 at a residence in Pakistan, which was a supposed ally of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. 

In 2003, the U.S. launched a war in Iraq, following claims the country was producing weapons of mass destruction and harboring al-Qaida terrorists. While the U.S. toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein, the weapons of mass destruction claim was found to be false, and no evidence of ties to al-Qaida were found. U.S. forces were deployed in Iraq for eight years. 

The difference in Iran

With such recent history to draw from, Americans are naturally skeptical of claims that Iran had to be bombed in February and that continued military action in the region is needed. 

One of the major differences this time is that the Trump administration made no case to the public, let alone Congress or any foreign allies, aside from Israel, as to why this conflict needs to be fought. The American people knew they were being lied to right out of the gate. The Trump administration initially said Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons, which was odd because Trump had rationalized bombings in Iran last year with the same reason, saying that Iran's nuclear capabilities had been "obliterated." Right away, a contradiction presented itself. 

Then came the bizarre justification by top administration officials that the mission wasn't about regime change, but it actually was about regime change. Some top officials said Israel forced the United States to participate in the strikes. The president said he forced Israel to participate. Then it became about destroying Iran's navy and its missile program. 

A supposed 60-day ceasefire was agreed to, then violated nearly two weeks ago. U.S. officials speak as if the fighting is not a signal that the war has resumed, but that seems merely a semantics charade. 

From confusion to bald-faced lies

Americans get confusing updates from leadership. 

Three American soldiers died last week as a result of Iranian drone strikes in Iraq and Jordan. 

When asked about those deaths over the weekend, Trump told reporters, "We feel very badly, but you know, those great people, those great patriots, were out there fighting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. 

"Iran has been very, very badly damaged," Trump went on to say. "They've lost everything almost militarily. They've got very little left. They've got some missiles. They've got some drones. They've got some manufacturing ability, not much. We control the [Strait of Hormuz]; they don't control anything."

Trump is lying to Americans' faces. Iran has scaled up its attacks even more, and continues to hold sway over the Strait of Hormuz, which has hurt the global economy and sent gas prices soaring in the U.S. 

A New York Times report also suggests that the Pentagon is hiding the true number of U.S. casualties in the conflict. The Pentagon denies the claim. 

Where it ends, no one knows

Trump has said the war in Iran is over multiple times. He's also vowed to wipe Iran off the map several times. He's said the Strait of Hormuz is open. He's said it's closed. 

The Iranians have been defanged, the administration says, then more targets get hit. More people die. Trump is back to saying this was done to stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon. Nothing indicates the Iranians were anywhere close to that. 

It's impossible to know when the Trump administration is being honest with the American people, if ever. 

This was a war started by the U.S. and Israel without a plan or a goal. Not even the pretense of such a thing has been seriously offered. The U.S. might be stuck in Iran for a very long time or Trump could end things the next day. Either way, the damage has been done, and just what that damage comes to would be anyone's guess at this point.