Dear Editor: I was flying home on Tuesday, April 7, 8 p.m. EST, the deadline for Trump’s threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” I felt vulnerable. At the same time, it felt only fair, should Iran choose to retaliate by interfering with air traffic control or similar mischief. Trump’s immoral and illegal war of choice has killed over 3,000 Iranian civilians to date, including 175 little girls in Minab, Iran, who went to school—not to war—the morning of February 28. Our partner-in-war-crimes, Israel, has killed 2,000 and injured over 6,000 Lebanese civilians, including 300 on the first day of Trump’s “ceasefire.”
Closer to home, I am outraged by Murkowski’s “no” vote on the March war powers resolution mandating the removal of American troops from Iran. I expected no less from Trump toadies Nick Begich and Dan Sullivan, but Murkowski knows better. Murkowski’s rationale that “what our troops need now is for our Congress, and this country, to know that they are supported” is absurd. The way to support service members is to keep them from harm’s way, not squander their lives on an immoral, illegal, capricious, and ruinous war.
Furthermore, Murkowski’s acceptance that the war was necessary to “degrade and destroy Iran’s capability for nuclear weapons” flies in the face of reality. According to official U.S. assessments – including those by Trump’s own director of national intelligence – Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in late 2003 and has not resumed it.
Only diplomacy has and can build peace with Iran. Indeed, under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran implemented restrictions on its nuclear program and accepted specific monitoring and reporting requirements. It scaled back only after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA in 2018.
Emboldened by his “successes” with weaker nations, in Iran, Trump’s reckless bullying has secured the disdain of the international community and brought us to the brink of nuclear war and economic chaos. Iran is likely more determined than ever to develop nuclear weapons in the face of unprovoked U.S. and Israeli aggression. And Trump’s desperation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz gives Iran significant leverage over the terms of a permanent ceasefire.
Trump’s “foreign policy” is to create mayhem then claim credit for ending it. It is more imperative than ever that we continue to show up and speak up to demand an end to this madness! Here are some things we can do:
House and Senate Democrats plan to force separate votes in both chambers on Iran war powers resolutions aimed at curbing President Trump’s military authority regarding Iran in the coming week. Contact Congressman Begich and Senators Murkowski and Sullivan to demand that they vote to limit the president’s authority to continue military operations in Iran without explicit congressional approval.
Participate in Sitkans for Peace and Democracy weekly vigil, Saturdays, noon to 1 p.m., at the roundabout. Wear your heart on your sign. Spend an hour in good company, model civic engagement, and spread hope. That’s a pretty good return on one hour’s work!
Check the Sitkans for Peace and Democracy Facebook page for upcoming local action opportunities.
Cindy Litman, Sitka
