What are the aims of the conflict unleashed by Israel and the United States? The USA tries to explain its relentless bombing campaign with a variety of constantly-shifting objectives. It’s about “regime change,” or destroying permanently Iran’s capacity to build a nuclear weapon, or reducing as much as possible Iran’s ability and status a regional military threat. The U.S. president at one point last week called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” But what authority can he make such a demand? What does it even mean?
These are open-ended and — in the circumstances — opaque goals for what is being presented as a “preemptive war of self-defense” (a concept which, in any case, could be used as a justification for any nation to attack another nation). Despite Iran’s brutal regime, its theocratic opposition to Israel, and the violence of its regional proxies, it is by no means clear how Iran posed an imminent threat to the security of the United States of America. What has Iran done to deserve this wholesale terrorizing of its civilian population, the crippling of its capacity to function as a civil society, and the general chaos unleashed by the destruction of infrastructure and all the “death, fire, and fury” raining down from its skies?
Certainly, the Iranian government’s killing of thousands of protesters in the streets last month was barbaric and intolerable. It was the latest of decades of brutal and violent acts, and those who perpetrate such crimes must be held accountable. But why does anyone think that bombing the whole nation into a condition of powerlessness — with possible fragmentation, civil conflict, and chaos — will bring about improvement? Are the United States and Israel trying to “destroy-Iran-in-order-to-save-it”? Do these allies care about “saving” Iran at all? Are they even pursuing the same aims with their bombing campaign?
I want the people of Iran to flourish in a healthy society that respects the dignity of every human person, has religious freedom and an appropriate recognition of civil rights, and has peaceful relationships with its neighbors (in particular, Israel). These difficult goals (in my opinion) were still attainable by intense, constructive dialogue and the incentives of economic collaboration, greater cultural interaction, and fraternal solidarity with the international community. Recent negotiations appeared to be making small gains in this direction. In my opinion, the framework obtained by multilateral diplomatic efforts in 2015 should have been given a chance to unfold and open further possibilities for dialogue and development of the various and complex features of Iranian society. And there is no inherent reason why Iran and Israel couldn’t overcome their differences and learn to (at least) coexist peacefully in a region where there is ample room for Muslims, Jews, and Christians to dwell together as neighbors, recognizing their common humanity and their distinctive identities and heritages, learning to listen to one another and understand one another.
Why was the “space for dialogue” not fostered with more dedication and patience? Why was this not possible? Instead it seems that the injustices and failures of the 20th century that began with the fall of the Ottoman Empire will continue to constrain and define the peoples of the Middle East, pushing them further and further down the endless spiral of retributive violence.
The President of the United States began this war (in conjunction with Israel) without any authorization from the US Congress, without any international mandate from the UN, without any “checks” or “balances” against his power to command the most colossal military forces ever assembled in the history of the world. If some construal of the United States Constitution (beyond the wildest nightmares of the American founders) justifies the President wielding this kind of power, then it is time to amend the Constitution. No one person should have such unchecked, unmediated, unaccountable power. Nations and leaders must work together toward achieving peace and security in this world of monstrous technological forces and the fragile, imperiled condition of human existence and the whole realm of creation.
The war in Iran and the Middle East is already a “defeat for humanity” and it risks escalating into an even greater catastrophe. It is a cause of grave concern and profound sorrow. It is good for us to be united with the ongoing prayer of Pope Leo XIV:
"We lift up our humble prayer to the Lord, so that the thunderous sound of bombs may cease, weapons may fall silent, and a space for dialogue may open up in which the voice of the people can be heard. I entrust this intention to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, that she may intercede for those who suffer because of war and lead hearts along the paths of reconciliation and hope." (Pope Leo, Angelus, March 8).
