[This post first appeared at Common Dreams on March 9, 2026.]
Minimally competent leaders would have considered at least five obvious questions before launching the nation into war. President Donald Trump considered none of them.
#1: What’s the Objective?
It’s not surprising that more than half of all Americans oppose Trump’s War. From the outset, his administration has offered numerous and contradictory justifications for it.
February 28:
· Trump cited 47 years of grievances, a desire to destroy Iran’s missiles, and a message that the Iranian people should “seize the moment” because now was their chance to “be brave, be bold, be heroic, and take back your country.”
· But he also said that the attack was a campaign to “eliminate the imminent nuclear threat,” although Trump had boasted in June that the United States had already accomplished that feat.
· The same day, Trump told the Washington Post, “All I want if freedom for the people.”
· U.N. Ambassador Mike Walz claimed to the United Nations Security Council that the U.S. was invoking the right of self-defense in response to Iran’s imminent threat.
· But the next day, Pentagon officials told congressional staff members that no intelligence supported the notion that Iran was planning to attack the U.S. first.
March 2:
· Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told the press that the objective was retaliation for decades of Iranian behavior, destruction of their missiles, and providing an opportunity for Iranians to “take advantage of this incredible opportunity.”
· But only hours later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a new justification for the war: Israel was going to attack Iran and, if that happened, Iran would then attack U.S. interests in the region. He made it sound as if Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had maneuvered Trump into a corner.
· The next day, Trump contradicted Rubio, saying, “It was my opinion that they [Iran] were going to attack first. They were going to attack if we didn’t do it.” Rebutting any impression that Netanyahu had manipulated him, Trump added, “If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.”
· Rubio complained that his earlier remarks had been taken out of context and the operation “had to happen anyway.”
March 6:
· Trump posted on social media that only “unconditional surrender” would end the war.
#2: How Long Will It Last?
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