The American people do not want war. The Iranian people do not want war, nor do the Russians, Ukrainians, or Israelis. Politicians lead nations on paths of death and destruction. The military-industrial complex succeeds, the neocons succeed, governments topple one another in search of power—but the people always lose.
King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who defeated the Romans at the Battle of Asculum (279 BC) but suffered massive, irreplaceable losses. He reportedly said:
“Another such victory, and I am undone.”
Kings and politicians have been waging wars for thousands of years. They seem to have no problem sending people to their deaths, all for some strange reason that appears to be the same human trait that wages sports, and we have to beat the other team to pound the chest and hold up the trophy. The French King Louis XIV, on his deathbed, lamented that he loved war too much.
The Prince of Savoy fought in many wars, and even Napoleon regarded him as one of the best generals in history. He fought for many kings and was wounded 13 times. Yet, the Prince of Savoy considered that he was the real father of our Second Amendment. He came to see that standing armies were evil, for they were easily used due to the expense of maintaining them. He came to realize that there should be no armies, and that was the only way to reduce war. His brilliant insight greatly influenced Montesquieu, as it laid the foundation for the right to bear arms, as enshrined in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that the people have the right to bear arms and form a militia in time of war. The underlying idea was to eliminate standing armies that feed the cycle of war.
Every war is government vs government, but they villanize the entire population of the enemy nation to justify their war games. The GOP may be cheering for war, but I have heard several Trump supporters express disappointment as they voted for the candidate who they presumed to be the least likely to bring America into a global conflict. I repeatedly warned that Trump could only prolong the inevitable cycle of war.
Americans are loudly stating that they do not want war. A new poll conducted by the Economist and YouGov found that only 16% of Americans believe the US should be involved in the Israel-Iran conflict, 24% are undecided, while an overwhelming 60% do not believe this is America’s battle to fight.
YouGov noted that 65% of Democrats, 61% of Independents, and 53% of Republicans are wary of intervening in Iran. Less than a quarter of Americans actually believe Iran’s nuclear program is a serious threat to US national security.
Half of Americans see Iran as an enemy nation, with a quarter labeling them as “unfriendly.” American mainstream media solely portrays the world through the lens of an American. Even Sky News, for example, is drastically different in its coverage compared to Fox. Images of Iranian flags and messages invoke fear and disdain. What most do not realize is that the Iranian people disapprove of the current regime and have been living in deteriorating conditions.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been in power for 36 years. President Masoud Pezeshkian was elected in 2024 following the death of the previous president, but Khamenei has sole authority over every branch of the government, military, and judiciary.
Iran was a different nation prior to the 1979 revolution. Pre-revolution pictures show women unveiled and living normal lives. Sharia law is now strictly enforced. The hijab is now non-negotiable for girls as young as 12. Half of the population was instantly silenced. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij militia have dismantled any attempted protest or disobedience. There were protests earlier this year but the people cannot speak out without the threat of execution. The major nationwide protests that occurred in 1999, 2009, and 2022 were completely dismantled by Iranian forces. The people live under a complete dictatorship.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei views America as the antithesis of Islamic culture. Relations with the West could expose Iran to cultural and political influence and ideology. His rhetoric has been anti-American for decades, no different from other adversaries, and he demonizes America to justify a stranglehold control over the nation. Ayatollah must exert power to protect his people from a hostile foreign nation. Sound familiar? Every government feeds its people similar lies.
The United States was Iran’s largest supplier of arms prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. US companies were significantly investing in the Iranian economy. US-Iran trade was blooming and the nations were discussing nuclear cooperation. The CIA did dismantle and install Iran’s government back in the 1950s after all, but that is a topic for another time. Relations deteriorated after the revolution. By 1995, US trade embargos blocked all trade with Iran and have remained in place for the past 30 years with transitory exceptions.
Fast forward to 2025, and Iran is facing a serious economic crisis after years of government mismanagement at the hands of a corrupt dictator. The currency has fallen by 50% in the past year and inflation is expected to soar from 35% to 50% in 2025. Poverty has become widespread as purchasing power has sharply declined. Infrastructure is failing, electricity outages are common, and basic goods are unaffordable. Some blame Western sanctions, while others blame the Iranian leadership for limiting economic growth and isolating Iran from the global markets.
The Iranian people are living under a harsh dictatorship that has resulted in a shrinking economy and a low quality of life. It remains to be seen whether Iran was close to becoming a nuclear power, but the concern did not exist until Israel’s attack on Iran. Is Iran the enemy? The one clear aspect is that the Iranian people are not the enemy, nor are the Russians, Ukrainians, Israelis, Chinese, etc. As Plato wrote in “The Republic” – “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”
