There is a dangerous class of American leaders and commentators who have never met a war they didn't like — or profit from. Many of them have never served in uniform, never walked a combat patrol, never supported special operations, and never worked undercover in hostile territory. Their families haven't either. Since the draft ended in 1973, military service has become the exception rather than the norm for most Americans. But we must never forget the men and women who have volunteered to serve since then, stepping into harm's way for the nation.
These young patriots are not statistics or expendable pawns. They are human beings with hopes and dreams — sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren. When they are killed or wounded, their families are shattered forever. In a very real sense, these service members and intelligence officers are our most valuable asset. They stand watch on a wall most of us avoid. They are our protectors. The neocons, politicians, and pundits who are eager to send them into danger — often from comfortable bubbles thousands of miles from the battlefield — must never forget that.
Nor should they forget that when the winds of war are fanned, the consequences spread like poison, lingering in the global system for years. In March 2003, the neoconservatives got their way with Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children were killed or wounded as those ripples spread across a land that ironically served as a natural buffer to Iran.
Today, the United States is at war with Iran. Some believe it is essential to prevent Iran's leadership from developing a nuclear weapon. Others argue that the previous strategy was working and that an attack would create multiple negative consequences with no viable off-ramps. As our leaders contemplate sending our protectors into combat, one question must be paramount: Is this truly vital to U.S. security, or are these men and women being sacrificed for political ambition, as a favor to another world leader, or for profiteering?
Another question is whether the ripples of war are now turning Iranian civilians against the American people. These innocent men, women, and children are victims of the brutal regime in Tehran. What are the long-term implications of that unintended consequence? Are we creating new enemies even as we strike old ones?
War is sometimes necessary. But some would argue that every war since World War II has been a war of choice. Whose choice? Who benefits from that choice, and who pays the highest price? The human and economic costs of these decisions are often borne by the working class and the disenfranchised, both at home and abroad.
Our Founding Fathers originated the "America First" ideal. They believed in the separation of church and state and understood that no faith or foreign nation should come before the United States. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin would likely recognize that the working people of every country share a common struggle against powerful, faceless elites. "America First" must ensure that innocent civilians in Iran, Israel, China, Russia, Ukraine, Venezuela, Cuba, or even Canada understand that the American people are not their enemy. That is the true meaning of "America First."
As Washington weighs military action, the debate over endless wars and their economic consequences continues. The decision to go to war is the most solemn a nation can make. It must never be taken lightly, and it must never be made by those who will not share in the sacrifice.
