Dave Smith on Why Trump's Iran War Was a Neocon Project Decades in the Making
A libertarian comedian argues Trump broke his anti-war promise by launching a war with Iran that neoconservatives and the Israel lobby have wanted for 30 years, and he says it's turning into a costly disaster for ordinary Americans.
- Trump campaigned against new wars but struck Iran anyway, reportedly after Netanyahu and Israeli intelligence convinced him it would be quick and easy; most of his own cabinet was reportedly skeptical or opposed.
- The push for this war traces back to a 1990s plan by neoconservative strategists to topple governments across the Middle East on Israel's behalf — Iraq, Libya, Syria, and now Iran were all on that original list.
- Weapons makers profit heavily regardless of whether a war is "won" or "lost," since defense contracts and resupply orders keep flowing either way — the financial incentive to go to war is large and largely disconnected from battlefield outcomes.
- Since the war began, gas and diesel prices and mortgage rates have all jumped, driven largely by disruption to oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz and by market uncertainty, hitting ordinary consumers' wallets.
- Despite promises to "drain the swamp," no major figures tied to past government deception (Russiagate, COVID origins, surveillance abuse) have faced real consequences, suggesting little structural change in Washington regardless of who's in office.
Outlook: Expect continued economic strain from higher gas and borrowing costs as the conflict's fallout works through markets, with political pressure likely to grow on the administration to show a clear exit or resolution.