US Attacks Iran 2026

[Szdfan]

The obvious answer is because this is a regime whose reaction is to lob missiles at a dozen countries.
You may not like this answer. Feel free to run for office I guess. Nick Fuentes is making a big deal out of how important it is for Democrats to win the mid terms because it’s so important not to “fight a war for Israel”. Perhaps you can campaign with him.

I don't support a nuclear Iran and I don't support its recently deposed leadership. But I also don't support reckless military action either -- trying to force this into an either I support the war or I support nuclear Iran is a false choice. I can oppose both.

Part of the issue here is that Trump's administration's rationale keeps changing. Is it a war? Depends on who you ask. Sometimes the same person in the same moment, such as Senator Markwayne Mullin's confused statement to reporters where he managed to contradict himself within seconds about whether the US is at war.

Same on the question of regime change. Pete Hegseth said it wasn't regime change. Trump now says he wants a say in Iran's next leader and threatens to kill anyone he doesn't like.

This shifting rationale does not inspire confidence that the administration thought this out.

[Szdfan]

The obvious answer is because this is a regime whose reaction is to lob missiles at a dozen countries.

But they weren't doing that before we attacked.

Iran’s response is entirely predictable, even if the Trump administration had expressed surprise about it.
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-i ... k-11606079

President Donald Trump said the biggest surprise as the United States and Israel carry out strikes against Iran has been Tehran’s attacks on Arab countries

I don't know why this is surprising. The Iranians have been backed into an existential corner, especially after the US and Israelis killed their top fifty leaders. I think there is hubris here in this surprise that the US can bomb other countries and kill their leaders without consequence.

Besides, Iran's primary targets have been US assets in the region. By John's own logic earlier in this thread, Iran isn't attacking these countries, but the "US military presence in the Middle East."

A more accurate statement would be "the U.S. and Israel attacked the current military leadership of Iran".

If the U.S. targeting Iranian leadership isn’t “attacking Iran,” then Iranian strikes on U.S. bases shouldn’t automatically be described as “attacking those countries."

[Jazman]

Besides the wisdom of Scripture, I believe in many cases, veterans of past wars bring a wisdom too; I think some of their stories/experiences can add heft to a peace / non-resistant / non-participation-in-war stance. I think it might be a blessing if more veterans found their faith home and way to Anabaptist/Mennonite churches. And I think these guys are more worth listening to than the current admin or secretary of war...

This stood out to me;

"Most said they are wary of President Donald Trump’s goals in Iran — on Friday, he demanded “unconditional surrender” from the region — and how many soldiers will be sacrificed in that pursuit. They said they are angry that Congress rebuffed efforts to halt the war. And they’re particularly frustrated by an administration that’s been steadily whittling down veteran support systems.

“There is a sense from the government [that] they’re kind of using us as pawns,” said Brandon Waithe, a former Air Force master sergeant who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “They want to send us to war, but they don’t want to pay for the results of it.”

(I'm all for decreasing our military budget, but would personally start in other areas, before the vet admin services)
Where have I heard that kind of thing before? Hmm.. Kind of like getting construction work done for your family reality/developer business, but then refusing to pay for the bill...

[barnhart]

Besides the wisdom of Scripture, I believe in many cases, veterans of past wars bring a wisdom too; I think some of their stories/experiences can add heft to a peace / non-resistant / non-participation-in-war stance. I think it might be a blessing if more veterans found their faith home and way to Anabaptist/Mennonite churches. And I think these guys are more worth listening to than the current admin or secretary of war...

And I think Anabaptist should engage in open dialogue/listen compassionately with veterans. We shouldn't turn away from them. Sometimes I wonder if we hold something that could, in the right circumstances be healing, the conviction that the terrible things they experienced were not sacred or necessary but were instead tragedy that doesn't need to be justified. God weeps at their damage and pain and so can we.

[JohnH]

Besides the wisdom of Scripture, I believe in many cases, veterans of past wars bring a wisdom too; I think some of their stories/experiences can add heft to a peace / non-resistant / non-participation-in-war stance. I think it might be a blessing if more veterans found their faith home and way to Anabaptist/Mennonite churches. And I think these guys are more worth listening to than the current admin or secretary of war...

And I think Anabaptist should engage in open dialogue/listen compassionately with veterans. We shouldn't turn away from them. Sometimes I wonder if we hold something that could, in the right circumstances be healing, the conviction that the terrible things they experienced were not sacred or necessary but were instead tragedy that doesn't need to be justified. God weeps at their damage and pain and so can we.

Speaking as an outsider, most ethnic Anabaptists shouldn't bother trying to relate to veterans.

If you have seekers in your ranks, then maybe you should bother. But if there isn't a single person in your ranks who is a veteran or has a parent or grandparent who was, then you should really ask yourself what on earth you are doing.

[JohnL]

Besides the wisdom of Scripture, I believe in many cases, veterans of past wars bring a wisdom too; I think some of their stories/experiences can add heft to a peace / non-resistant / non-participation-in-war stance. I think it might be a blessing if more veterans found their faith home and way to Anabaptist/Mennonite churches. And I think these guys are more worth listening to than the current admin or secretary of war...

And I think Anabaptist should engage in open dialogue/listen compassionately with veterans. We shouldn't turn away from them. Sometimes I wonder if we hold something that could, in the right circumstances be healing, the conviction that the terrible things they experienced were not sacred or necessary but were instead tragedy that doesn't need to be justified. God weeps at their damage and pain and so can we.

I think this is right. You'll have to pick your ambassadors of outreach to these veterans very carefully. Vets with PTSD especially can have a strong reaction against authoritarian personalities and people who come across as hostile. It triggers them.

[mike]

Besides the wisdom of Scripture, I believe in many cases, veterans of past wars bring a wisdom too; I think some of their stories/experiences can add heft to a peace / non-resistant / non-participation-in-war stance. I think it might be a blessing if more veterans found their faith home and way to Anabaptist/Mennonite churches. And I think these guys are more worth listening to than the current admin or secretary of war...

And I think Anabaptist should engage in open dialogue/listen compassionately with veterans. We shouldn't turn away from them. Sometimes I wonder if we hold something that could, in the right circumstances be healing, the conviction that the terrible things they experienced were not sacred or necessary but were instead tragedy that doesn't need to be justified. God weeps at their damage and pain and so can we.

I think this is right. You'll have to pick your ambassadors of outreach to these veterans very carefully. Vets with PTSD especially can have a strong reaction against authoritarian personalities and people who come across as hostile. It triggers them.

I'm not sure what outreach to veterans by those with nonresistant/pacifist views has to do with triggering personality traits. The question of clashing worldviews is far more fundamental, and the idea of nonresistance is highly objectionable to many veterans. If God places veterans in our path and we have the opportunity to engage with them on issues of military service, the way we engage is important, though.

Numerous veterans have in fact discovered Anabaptist theology and sought out the Anabaptist community. I don't think Anabaptists should seek them out more so than any other particular group. But I agree that the way of Jesus has much to offer them.

[JohnL]

And I think Anabaptist should engage in open dialogue/listen compassionately with veterans. We shouldn't turn away from them. Sometimes I wonder if we hold something that could, in the right circumstances be healing, the conviction that the terrible things they experienced were not sacred or necessary but were instead tragedy that doesn't need to be justified. God weeps at their damage and pain and so can we.

I think this is right. You'll have to pick your ambassadors of outreach to these veterans very carefully. Vets with PTSD especially can have a strong reaction against authoritarian personalities and people who come across as hostile. It triggers them.

I'm not sure what outreach to veterans by those with nonresistant/pacifist views has to do with triggering personality traits. The question of clashing worldviews is far more fundamental, and the idea of nonresistance is highly objectionable to many veterans. If God places veterans in our path and we have the opportunity to engage with them on issues of military service, the way we engage is important, though.

Numerous veterans have in fact discovered Anabaptist theology and sought out the Anabaptist community. I don't think Anabaptists should seek them out more so than any other particular group. But I agree that the way of Jesus has much to offer them.

Can you honestly say there are no authoritarian personalities among nonresitant/pacifist groups?

[barnhart]

Can you honestly say there are no authoritarian personalities among nonresitant/pacifist groups?

There most certainly are. I would guess a similar percentage as among most other church groups.

[mike]

Can you honestly say there are no authoritarian personalities among nonresitant/pacifist groups?

Of course not.