Guest Column: Congressional Candidate Reacts to Iran War

I woke up early on February 28 and was shocked to discover the United States and Israel had initiated Operation Epic Fury, a military action against the nation of Iran. My immediate response was astonishment with no clear picture being offered of what exactly was happening or why. Over the past nine days, however, we Americans have begun to understand the irresponsible, and irrational actions of two deranged national leaders. We now know we have been lied to, manipulated, and coerced, yet we still have no clearer picture of rationale consistent with cause for military action. We have no idea of the end game because it is clear there is no plan. One minute it is a war, the next it is not. One minute it is an invitation to “take back your country” the next it is a demand for “unconditional surrender.” There is no indication on the part of the president or his cabinet that this is a well-orchestrated military operation with a clearly defined purpose and end. In fact, the plan is so informal that the executive office informed right-wing media influencers before Congress or the American people, and the President chose to wear a baseball cap to receive our first American fatalities in their flag-draped coffins.

While Trump and Netanyahu are brandishing swords and puffing their chests, we are beginning to see the humanitarian and economic effect on Americans and the rest of the world. A strike on a girls’ school killing 168 people – most of them children – is a war crime. An attack on five oil refineries, raining oil on Tehranian citizens and creating an ecological crisis is a war crime. A torpedo attack on an Iranian warship returning from a naval exercise in international waters with 180 unarmed sailors is a war crime. Add to that no rescue operation for survivors – that is a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions. The strike left 148 confirmed dead with 87 bodies pulled from the water by Sri Lankan recovery teams. Is this who we have become as a

Human costs will continue to escalate because the price of oil – up 66% in a little over one week – from $67.02 → $111.24 per barrel – will precipitate a global crisis of immense economic magnitude. Global recession, hyperinflation on goods and services, job losses, homelessness, starvation – all paint a broad and bleak picture of our immediate future.

And here at home, in their effort to reduce the deficit with the “Big Beautiful Bill” last summer, Republicans justified dramatic cuts to government programs that support American people including healthcare and supplemental nutrition assistance. Apparently, Republicans have no problem cutting essential and life-sustaining services to support Trump’s unauthorized vanity war. Operation Epic Fury is estimated to cost the American people $1 billion each day –almost $3 a day for every American.

This is a moral crisis,and Americans should be outraged by this pointless display of power. Every Republican in government has betrayed their supporters, reneged on their promises, and created hardships that will take years to correct. I have not seen nor have I heard anything that justifies these atrocities – not from the president, not from the Cabinet, not from Congress, not from our own Congressman. Jim Baird has done nothing but echo the party line. He is complacent. He is complicit in this crisis – complicit in his support for an authoritarian who has said the only thing that can stop him from using American military power is his own mind – his own version of morality. As we have seen, that is a deeply flawed morality.

This election is not about political parties; this election is about sanity, integrity, morality, democracy, the rule of law, the Constitution, and restoring our government to the people. If WE THE PEOPLE cannot throw them out, it is imperative that WE THE PEOPLE VOTE THEM OUT!

Joe Mackey is a candidate for Indiana’s 4th Congressional district. Attached is his statement condemning the US/Israeli initiated conflict in Iran.