The Issue: Whether the president launched a “war of choice” with Operation Epic Fury.
Although Iran may not be able to reach our shores now, it does have the capability to rain havoc on the Middle East, Central Asia, parts of Eastern Europe and our nearby military bases, reaching a population in the hundreds of millions (“Prez left with no choice but attack,” Michael Goodwin, March 4).
Allowing Iran to develop a nuclear arsenal and continue its terroristic attacks upon us and other nations would haunt us as a missed opportunity to avert such catastrophes.
As President George W. Bush, who also launched a preemptive attack on an aggressor, said: “The war on terror will not be won on the defensive. We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans, and confront the worst threats before they emerge.”
Matt Drozd
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Epic Fury is a war of multiple-choice rationales: It was either a war of necessity or a war of choice; Israel pushed America into preemptively attacking or the president “forced Israel’s hand.”
That Iran has been led by a theocratic, fascist and fanatical regime is beyond dispute. But making its supreme leader a martyr effectively sows the seeds of a century of violent extremism among 200 to 300 million Shia around the world.
What are the president’s objectives in Iran? The answer might be “none of the above.” His priority is not “America First” but Trump first.
Eric Radack
Santa Fe, NM
I agree that the war to prevent a nuclear Iran was never a choice, especially for Israel. This existential threat had to be neutralized to prevent the worst from happening.
Putting American boots on the ground there, however, would be a terrible mistake. History teaches us that these foreign interventions usually turn out bad for our young servicemen.
Vietnam and Iraq are prime examples. Let’s hope Trump keeps this in mind.
Nick Gatsoulis
Manhattan
It doesn’t take a geopolitical expert to realize that it was only a matter of time before Benjamin Netanyahu dragged President Trump into an armed conflict with Iran. It’s become all too obvious that our leader can’t say “no” to Benji.
Bob Ory
Chicago
People of America, get your heads out of your butts and recognize that the only way to stop the lying, despotic Iranian regime is through force.
Peter Sulzicki
Stanford, Conn.
Trump’s sensational attack, coordinated with Israel, was simply astounding. After 47 years of torture, terrorism and other outrages, Iran’s top leadership was wiped out.
Several US presidents tried to negotiate with Ali Khamenei, with no success at all, and never achieved anything. This president, however, realized that Khamenei had no intention of abandoning his goal and so acted decisively. It took a lot of guts and courage, but he did it, and that’s what makes him an extraordinary president.
Matthew Pease
Demarest, NJ
The conflict in the Middle East is not only a regional issue — it concerns the stability and the security of the entire world.
For decades, terrorism and violence have affected many countries. In times like these, leadership requires courage.
Decisions that aim to confront dangerous regimes and long-standing threats are never easy and are often misunderstood. I think Trump has shown the willingness to take responsibility and to act when many others hesitate. The Iranian people, like all people, deserve peace, dignity and a future without fear.
Olivier Desbaillet
Geneva, Switzerland
In life, the most common choice we are confronted with is the adoption of short-term discomfort or everlasting misery. The vast majority of individuals choose the latter. However, with the president’s action to rid our world of the wicked ayatollah and his murderous henchmen, we as a civilization have chosen the former.
Today, I am grateful that we have Donald Trump, a man who hears the call of history, and possesses the intestinal fortitude to act and make it right.
Henry Wilson
Barrington, Ill.
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