Regarding Iran, in the simple-minded view of MAGA we need to kill them before they kill us, obviously, because they want us dead. They like to cite the fact that they’re chanting “death to America!”
But let’s think this through. We’ve been attacking middle Eastern countries (e.g. Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Iran) for quite a while. Apparently they’re not dangerously big like China or Russia and they’ve got a lot of oil so they’re a fun target. So oddly enough, yes, there is some strong anti-Western sentiment there. We’d probably be chanting “death to [fill in a country name here]” if they were bombing us.
Back when Bush decided to invade Afghanistan it was pointed out that if we took the trillions we spent on the war and spent it on helping them with their infrastructure, schools, etc. they’d have a much different view of the West. And they’d have a really hard time radicalizing folks into hating America when we were being so nice. And there would be no chanting and/or death threats.
Of course folks here would scream if we just invested in another country because that money should be spent at home. Oh but attacking them, well that’s different, that’s all about our security and freedom and stuff.
As an added bonus our weapons manufacturers get big piles of money. And Lindsay Graham says we (not sure who “we” is but I’m pretty sure it’s not me) will make a ton of money.
Now all this seems particularly crazy because the MAGA contingent like to say “this is a Christian nation” but one of the clearest tenets of the Bible is “love one another.” I simply can’t see how dropping bombs on folks is loving them.
Yes, I know, they have a nasty theist ruler and there would be a lot of folks happy that he was killed (ahem, I think the same holds true here). But let’s just make this really clear: I’m opposed to killing people. That seems like totally the wrong way to solve problems plus it’s just kinda mean.
I’m not Christian but I certainly think we could use a lot more “love one another” and a lot less “bomb one another.” Violence begets violence.