US Commits Irresponsible Escalation, Forever Wars are Poison to Democracy: SENTRO and LEARN Statement on US Airstrikes Against Iran
History has show that when democracies engage in war in defense of principles, values, and human rights, it is usually these standards that are sacrificed in the name of “victory”. More often than not, appeals to democracy, human dignity, and peace are weaponized to justify imperial experiments in the Global South. Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East are testaments to this hypocrisy of the Global North, with working people doing the brunt of the senseless killing and dying.
The Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) and Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN) condemn the irresponsible and unconsitutional military action authorized by the Trump administration.
This escalation does not resolve, but merely deepens the social and political crisis long fostered by foreign intervention in the Middle East. What makes this recent round of American interference stand out is its blatant support for the state of Israel, almost two years since it launched a genocidal war against the Palestinian people. We see the deployment of the typical talking points: an enemy of democracy has weapons of mass destruction. The US is therefore obligated to act unilaterally for the sake of the international community. The inability of Iran’s nuclear weapons production to pose a credible threat is irrelevant. It is a convenient excuse for the American empire to attempt the overthrow of a hostile regime to suit its own interests.
Classical Western hypocrisy aside, this recent foray into its proxy’s war must be seen in the context of the US forever wars. These conflicts in the Middle East, done in the service of American Empire and military-industrial complex, have been ruinous to American lives and democratic institutions. Billions of US dollars have been funneled away from essential social services to fund America’s overseas military presence. Classrooms, hospitals, and trains have been consciously sacrificed by policymakers in favor of bombs, tanks, and planes. Politically, the US has committed itself to decades of unpopular and unnecessary overseas wars with the fervent support of Congress across administrations. That this is in large part due to the lobbying influence of huge corporations welded to the armed forces is no secret.
This escalation against Iran is no war between democracy and authoritarianism. It is another misguided attempt to prop up US power overseas and distract from domestic troubles. As with any imperialist adventure, the human cost of these geopolitical games will once again be paid in the blood of innocents. Should the present conflict deepen, then thousands more, mostly from working class families, will fight, die, and become collateral casualities of a conflict that will further destabilize the Middle East and undermine US democracy.
As part of the international labor movement, we must oppose this brewing conflict as incompatible with the principles of international peace, cooperation, and human rights. As workers, we must resist the attempts to foster division among peoples under the guise of patriotism or in defense of “democratic” values. In any war of conquest and profit, we workers are expected to fight and die to make the rich even richer. This is how we should view the present conflict between Israel and Iran.
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