Here is why we are at war.

"(War, huh) Lord, lord, lord, lord
(What is it good for?) Oh, absolutely nothin'"
       Edwin Starr, Motown anti-war song, 1969

People who go to war have very good reasons.

Reason: We cannot let Iran have nuclear weapons.

"They've rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can't take it anymore."

And more reasons:

Reason: Payback. Trump said Iran took Americans hostage in 1979, they carried out the bombing of a marine barracks in Beirut in 1983, and they might have been involved in the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. He wrote on Truth Social that “Iran tried to interfere in 2020, 2024 elections to stop Trump." This made it personal.

Reason: Regime change. Trump sent a message to the Iranian people. Start a revolution. Create your own government amid the chaos. He said, "Now is the time to seize control of your destiny, and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass."

Pundits offer other reasons.

Reason: Domestic politics, to improve his low approval rating. This one has instant credibility because it was top of mind for Trump himself when Barack Obama was president. Trump is unhappy about his bad polling. As is common with Trump, his accusations reveal a confession:

Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate.
2:39 PM - Oct 9, 2012

and

Remember what I previously said--Obama will someday attack Iran in order to show how tough he is.
10:44 AM - Sep 25, 2013

Reason: Do what Bibi Netanyahu wants. Voices on the antisemitic, or merely anti-Israeli -- American right and left accuse the U.S. -- and Trump especially -- of having turned our Middle East foreign policy over to Israel. We are their patsy because "Jewish interests" in the U.S. control both political parties through campaign contributions. Bibi needs this war; the U.S. is dragged along.

Reason: Distract from the Epstein mess. The war pushed Epstein out of the news. The war changes the Trump news story from the lecherous playboy with teen beauty pageants into a bold military leader involved with far more important matters than unprovable sex crimes. 

Reason: Iran is a package deal with Venezuela. U.S. Gulf Coast refineries are set up to process heavy oil.

Venezuela has the world's largest reserves of that sludge-like oil. It needs to be mixed with very light oil to transport via ships and pipelines. Our new Venezuelan oil resource is incomplete without Iranian solvent. Trump is not a sentimentalist. Strong countries don't go to war for intangible democracy or human rights. They go to war for resources. 

Reason: The U.S. picked a side in the Middle East rivalry, the side that wants to do business with Trump, not the side that cares primarily about religion. This is a regional war: the Saudis and Arabic oil kingdoms versus Persian Iran. The oil kingdoms are now modern capitalists at heart.  We -- and Israel -- can do business with them. 

Burj Al Arab ultra-luxury hotel in Dubai

There is a reason that Iran lobbed a missile into this Dubai hotel.

Reason: We can. The U.S. has a big military. It isn't there to have on standby and not use. Why have it if not to use it?  The change from "Department of Defense" to "Department of War" reflects a change in policy and purpose.

Reason: Trump seeks a grand legacy. He seeks glorification. Leaders who have had their names associated with "the Great" have led successful conquests. They do big, bold things. The giant ballroom and arch projects, plus Trump's name and image on buildings, airports, currency, warships, and geographic features are not enough. Trump wants conquest. Cuba is next.

Reason: Save face. If things go poorly, there is always the fallback reason to keep on fighting even after all original reasons are gone. We cannot let the world see we did not win. That was our reason when the war dragged on in Vietnam. That is Russia's situation in Ukraine now. There is always a reason.

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