My own thoughts on the US bombing of Iran

My thoughts on the US bombing of Iran.  My initial thought was good. I am glad we did it. We would not be here if Trump had not torn up the nuclear deal of the past, and it was the ultimate irony that Trump is now willing to risk war to get it renegotiated. That is for the good. History will ultimately make the judgment call on the attack's value and fallout on the future of the region. 

I wrote in a Facebook comment that my initial response to the US bombing run was only a concern that there would be retaliation upon retaliation that would result in US boots on the ground.  "One and done' at least demonstrated the military reach and the ability to execute such a mission, even if it failed to destroy forever Iran's nuclear military ambitions.  The question of whether this was a good judgment call to destroy Iran's weaponization of nuclear ability is yet to be seen, as damage assessment is not complete and controversial. Does it justify the strike? This is a question that is not settled. However, the timing was fortuitous, and it is legitimate to say the US took advantage of the situation, planned or not. The opportunity to be successful was the best in years, with the Israelis damaging Iran's air defense. The goal is understood: to destroy Iran's nuclear plans, but whether it has accomplished it is yet to be seen. 

So far, retaliation has been more symbolic than significant, but if it does prompt Iran to negotiate a nuclear deal, that would be a positive outcome and the best we could hope for. How long this cease-fire lasts is yet to be seen, but we can hope.  

 Now, what happens going forward?

If there should be a strengthening of the War Powers Act by Congress, it is more of a domestic conflict over executive power overreach and diminishing the checks and balances of the legislative branch, rather than moral ideological differences.  Whatever comes out of that, one-and-done strikes are risking war, but not always an act of war itself, and the reservation of the element of surprise is critical. The real issue is when Congressional action is required and whether the trigger would be boots on the ground or something less. In that respect, I hope that any revision of the War Powers Act would require a majority of Senate approval, limited to whether US boots would be on the ground, and that the end result, "the day after", would be carefully addressed as part of the war plan in the revision.  Remember that this act would also affect any party occupying the White House in the future.  What is good for the goose needs to be good for the gander.

 I do not believe there was an immediate threat that the Trump administration has given the reasons for the bomb raid.  What I do buy as a legitimate reason is that Israel had weakened and destroyed Iran's proxies and air defense with their actions, and that this would be the best advantage for success now and in the foreseeable future.  Pragmatically speaking, the US failed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and an invasion and ground war with Iran would make Afghanistan and Iraq look like child's play. Iran is a significant, technologically advanced, and well-educated country, predominantly cohesive in its nationalism, although there is growing resistance due to the strict enforcement of religious law. It is ethnically proud of its past as Persia, with a dominant religion and language distinct from those of its Arab neighbors.  It had few friends in the region, and the Arab neighbors had a history of conflicts with them. Still, Iran has always seen that the guarantee of its national security and survival was to be a nuclear military power. Their best friend, Russia, is otherwise occupied in Ukraine. 

I understand and do not condemn Israel's actions against Iran's proxies to the north and east. I get and support Israel's attempt to survive as a nation.  The Gaza action was to me a matter of condemnation of both Hamas and Israel for crimes against humanity and examples of the worst behavior of mankind. Equivalents are beside the point; human suffering of non-combatants is my issue. I have written similar and consistent comments about both issues in past published columns and blogs over the years.