US Attacks Iran 2026

[JohnH]

But still a better investment.

I was referring to the amount of "peacetime" Department of Defense / Department of War spending (which is actually more than a billion a day).

Peacetime defense spending is one thing. War adds the cost of destroying things and replacing the weapons used to do it.

Actually, for an operation this small, we probably won't notice any change in the budget at all. That's how massive the U.S. military is.

I have a level of suspicion about "peacetime defence spending" too. Hence why I have a level of suspicion about something called a "Department of Defense" at all. At least it is honestly named now.

[Szdfan]

I was referring to the amount of "peacetime" Department of Defense / Department of War spending (which is actually more than a billion a day).

Peacetime defense spending is one thing. War adds the cost of destroying things and replacing the weapons used to do it.

Actually, for an operation this small, we probably won't notice any change in the budget at all. That's how massive the U.S. military is.

I have a level of suspicion about "peacetime defence spending" too. Hence why I have a level of suspicion about something called a "Department of Defense" at all. At least it is honestly named now.

If you’re suspicious of the military, why are you so quick to minimize this war?

[Jazman]

The wasted spending is bad enough, but the secretary's blasphemous mix of martial, "no mercy" enemy hate language with prayer and "appeals to heaven" etc bother me more... And yes, I know warped/off-track parts of christianity have acted/talked like this for centuries... but this Crusader/holy warrior/old covenant chest thumping God-claiming way is one reason why my forefathers felt led and compelled to leave their native church...

I hope Mennos/Anabaptists everywhere are not falling for the secretary of war's rhetoric or their alarm bells are starting to go off... I don't get the feeling that this admin will honor or give a pass to conscientious objector. I don't see much if any space in the secretary's or his pastor/denomination's theology for that kind of Christian; I think their assumption is; if you claim to be a Christian, then you should be willing to join their 'holy war' because in their minds, it's God-compelled, Biblical, yada/yada the usual warrior Jesus from Revelation or "bring a sword" nonsense.
We're not there yet, but if it gets to the place that the secretary of 'war' is desperate for cannon fodder, especially if secular people refuse to fight his 'christian' war... we may see something we haven't seen in quite awhile (and not in any of our lifetimes) We'll also see how Menno's who want it both ways react (ones who want to avoid war but who also support MAGA...). I hope and pray this winds down before then, but this secretary's rhetoric and posture suggests anything but that. He seems to be really 'enjoying' himself...

[Szdfan]

The wasted spending is bad enough, but the secretary's blasphemous mix of martial, "no mercy" enemy hate language with prayer and "appeals to heaven" etc bother me more... And yes, I know warped/off-track parts of christianity have acted/talked like this for centuries... but this Crusader/holy warrior/old covenant chest thumping God-claiming way is one reason why my forefathers felt led and compelled to leave their native church...

The alarming part of Hegseth’s “no quarter” language is that is it was followed through, it would mean shooting enemy soldiers instead of taking them prisoner. That’s a war crime.

[JohnH]

The wasted spending is bad enough, but the secretary's blasphemous mix of martial, "no mercy" enemy hate language with prayer and "appeals to heaven" etc bother me more... And yes, I know warped/off-track parts of christianity have acted/talked like this for centuries... but this Crusader/holy warrior/old covenant chest thumping God-claiming way is one reason why my forefathers felt led and compelled to leave their native church...

I hope Mennos/Anabaptists everywhere are not falling for the secretary of war's rhetoric or their alarm bells are starting to go off... I don't get the feeling that this admin will honor or give a pass to conscientious objector. I don't see much if any space in the secretary's or his pastor/denomination's theology for that kind of Christian; I think their assumption is; if you claim to be a Christian, then you should be willing to join their 'holy war' because in their minds, it's God-compelled, Biblical, yada/yada the usual warrior Jesus from Revelation or "bring a sword" nonsense.
We're not there yet, but if it gets to the place that the secretary of 'war' is desperate for cannon fodder, especially if secular people refuse to fight his 'christian' war... we may see something we haven't seen in quite awhile (and not in any of our lifetimes) We'll also see how Menno's who want it both ways react (ones who want to avoid war but who also support MAGA...). I hope and pray this winds down before then, but this secretary's rhetoric and posture suggests anything but that. He seems to be really 'enjoying' himself...

If being a CO is important to you, then I suggest a principled stance against war, as opposed to “I don’t like the current President and SecDec.”

[JimFoxvog]

It's interesting to compare the US demand for unconditional surrender with the term that Iran is proposing:

Mohsen Rezaee, a senior Iranian official and member of the Expediency Discernment Council (former IRGC commander), issued a strong statement asserting Iran's control over the resolution of the ongoing conflict. He declared, "The end of the war is in our hands," emphasizing that Tehran would only consider ending hostilities on two strict conditions.

First, Iran demands full compensation from the United States for all damages suffered.

Second, it requires a 100% guarantee of future security, which he stated is impossible without the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Persian Gulf.

Rezaee framed these as non-negotiable prerequisites, linking long-term peace to the removal of American military presence in the region.

[Valerie]

The wasted spending is bad enough, but the secretary's blasphemous mix of martial, "no mercy" enemy hate language with prayer and "appeals to heaven" etc bother me more... And yes, I know warped/off-track parts of christianity have acted/talked like this for centuries... but this Crusader/holy warrior/old covenant chest thumping God-claiming way is one reason why my forefathers felt led and compelled to leave their native church...

I hope Mennos/Anabaptists everywhere are not falling for the secretary of war's rhetoric or their alarm bells are starting to go off... I don't get the feeling that this admin will honor or give a pass to conscientious objector. I don't see much if any space in the secretary's or his pastor/denomination's theology for that kind of Christian; I think their assumption is; if you claim to be a Christian, then you should be willing to join their 'holy war' because in their minds, it's God-compelled, Biblical, yada/yada the usual warrior Jesus from Revelation or "bring a sword" nonsense.
We're not there yet, but if it gets to the place that the secretary of 'war' is desperate for cannon fodder, especially if secular people refuse to fight his 'christian' war... we may see something we haven't seen in quite awhile (and not in any of our lifetimes) We'll also see how Menno's who want it both ways react (ones who want to avoid war but who also support MAGA...). I hope and pray this winds down before then, but this secretary's rhetoric and posture suggests anything but that. He seems to be really 'enjoying' himself...

If being a CO is important to you, then I suggest a principled stance against war, as opposed to “I don’t like the current President and SecDec.”

I agree. All presidents are “Commander in Chief” they will never be CO, no one likes war, this current president is no exception to that but he has HIGH regards for making this country better, safer, stronger- as Rubio pointed out in the video on here from yesterday, Iran is a definite threat to Israel and America, they vow “death” to both in their constant chants. President Trump offered the olive branch but their religious ideology will NEVER accept that nor surrender nor change their minds. It is deeply engrained in their radical Islam beliefs. They have their own (false) prophecies and “world@ agenda but especially against Israel and America.

If it “appears” we are less safe now, doing nothing would certainly have been worse in a matter of time.

[Szdfan]

The wasted spending is bad enough, but the secretary's blasphemous mix of martial, "no mercy" enemy hate language with prayer and "appeals to heaven" etc bother me more... And yes, I know warped/off-track parts of christianity have acted/talked like this for centuries... but this Crusader/holy warrior/old covenant chest thumping God-claiming way is one reason why my forefathers felt led and compelled to leave their native church...

I hope Mennos/Anabaptists everywhere are not falling for the secretary of war's rhetoric or their alarm bells are starting to go off... I don't get the feeling that this admin will honor or give a pass to conscientious objector. I don't see much if any space in the secretary's or his pastor/denomination's theology for that kind of Christian; I think their assumption is; if you claim to be a Christian, then you should be willing to join their 'holy war' because in their minds, it's God-compelled, Biblical, yada/yada the usual warrior Jesus from Revelation or "bring a sword" nonsense.
We're not there yet, but if it gets to the place that the secretary of 'war' is desperate for cannon fodder, especially if secular people refuse to fight his 'christian' war... we may see something we haven't seen in quite awhile (and not in any of our lifetimes) We'll also see how Menno's who want it both ways react (ones who want to avoid war but who also support MAGA...). I hope and pray this winds down before then, but this secretary's rhetoric and posture suggests anything but that. He seems to be really 'enjoying' himself...

If being a CO is important to you, then I suggest a principled stance against war, as opposed to “I don’t like the current President and SecDec.”

Of course someone can do both — be critical of war in general and criticize a specific war and those waging them. It’s like saying principled pacifism can’t criticize the Vietnam War or Richard Nixon and Robert McNamara. Why would that follow?

[JohnH]

If you’re suspicious of the military, why are you so quick to minimize this war?

Because I am also suspicious of opposition to wars that is based out of partisanship where the opposition is simply because "I don't like <leader> / <party> / <country>" - a problem that has plagued the Middle East for a long time.

Principled opposition to war and violence is when we always oppose it, even when it is on "our side". Therefore, I could not in good conscience fight for the United States or for Israel, even as I find I strongly support many of their geopolitical positions and goals. If those in the Iranian regime are my enemy, I feel I need to show Christ's love to them, not attempt to kill them.

Unprincipled opposition to war always ends in a very ugly way.

[JohnH]

Of course someone can do both — be critical of war in general and criticize a specific war and those waging them. It’s like saying principled pacifism can’t criticize the Vietnam War or Richard Nixon and Robert McNamara. Why would that follow?

Because such opposition tended to be ridiculously unprincipled, and when one pulled back the curtain, it tended to be the same people fully supporting whatever Russia was doing.

Proper, principled non-resistance would want to see those fighting on both sides lay down their arms, accept Christ, and learn how to love their enemies.