Iran War Leaves Veterans Struggling for Meaning
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- U.S. engaged in a conflict with Iran that has been downplayed as an 'excursion' but continues despite a claimed ceasefire, with no clear terms or lasting peace agreement disclosed.
- Iran remains capable of choking off the Strait of Hormuz, retains its missile capabilities and proxy networks, and has not undergone regime change despite U.S. strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- Trump announced a ceasefire deal with Iran during the G7 summit, but provided no details, while MAGA supporters declared victory despite ongoing hostilities.
- Veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam express difficulty reconciling their service with wars that lacked clear justification, noble outcomes, or honest premises, warning the Iran conflict follows the same pattern.
- U.S. military history is cited as selectively glorified, with emphasis on victorious wars while conflicts like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan are left unresolved or based on flawed reasoning.
Why it matters: The U.S. risks repeating the psychological and moral burden on veterans by entering wars without clear objectives or honest justifications, as seen in Vietnam and Iraq. With Iran still posing strategic threats and no verifiable peace, service members may again return to a nation that cannot explain what was won.
