So, last night the US dove into the war between Israel and Iran. Big time. If you don’t know, huge American bombs were dropped by US stealth bombers on three places in Iran that were known to be developing nuclear bombs. First reactions from our government are that the bombs were successful and they caused great damage to the nuclear building sites.
I watched the press conference from Secretary of Defense Hegseth this morning, and I also listened to a reporter in Iran about what the officials there are saying. Different stories.
So, it will take awhile to get the truth. I am trying not to form a decision about what happened just yet. These days it seems nobody is able to wait on forming an opinion. I’m reading and hearing lots of opinions this morning.
I have seen online many Democrats both opposed to the bombings and to the way it happened. They are saying that nobody in Congress was alerted before the event, and that it goes against the Constitution. The leaders of the House & Senate should have been told. Also, Congress must declare war and approve any military action before it happens. If it is true that Congress was not told , I am not surprised. President Trump has by-passed Congress often since taking office and he has turned the Republican members into silent ‘no doers,’ to the point that I wonder why we pay their salaries.
I tend to side with Democrats on most issues, and I do worry, as the Dem leaders do, that protocol was not followed. A ‘group’ decision was not made. One military expert this morning said he was amazed at how such a big operation was kept under wraps, with no leaks. He didn’t think the administration was able to succeed in pulling off a large event like this.
But they did. It happened.
So, here we are the morning after….Waiting. Wondering what kind of retaliation Iran will now decide to do to the US. I remember back in the early 90’s when the Gulf War started and how I sat watching the live video feed on TV of the bombs dropping half a world away. It seemed right out my window in a way. It was an eerie feeling. Entering a war.
I have that feeling again.
I will be the first to say I don’t understand all the hatred between Iran and Israel. They have such a long history of governments who can’t figure out how to live geographically close. I don’t understand why there is always a need to have bigger bombs, and to push each others’ buttons. I know it’s complicated. Terrorist organizations grow there. I know there are some pretty bad leaders there too. Perhaps on both sides. When this happens, it is the citizens, the regular people, who get caught up in the horror of war.
And, so now, we Americans are involved. We have troops there. We have weapons there. We have taken a side. And, we are still already deeply involved in the Ukraine war against Russia. Here we go again.
Pres. Trump campaigned and ran on staying out of war. On “America first.” He told his followers that he wanted to be an isolationist, to stay away from world problems. But, perhaps he realized it is impossible. Perhaps he wanted to use his bully power. Again, we must wait to see.
But, at this point the tension has escalated. The rhetoric is loud. The sides are divided as always.
We all are waiting to see what happens next.
Marla’s Musings 