Out now for everyone: Senator Ron Johnson joins The Illusion of Consensus for a serious debate on Iran, Trump’s foreign policy, congressional war powers, and the risks of another Middle East conflict.
Senator Johnson states that we have to finish this war because we cannot tolerate the threat of a hostile Iran ready to develop nuclear missiles to attack us. The question is whether we CAN finish this war. Many historians note that once a war becomes a war of attrition, there is almost no possibility of a larger power dominating with air strikes alone. We see this, because we have lost in Vietnam, in Iraq, in Afghanistan,--and now we are going to lose again in Iran. Usually the war ends because the citizens find the cost is not worth the benefit. We don't have enough ground troops or patriot missiles to defend them. Without a draft, we do not have enough soldiers. The war is bankrupting us and likely to cause a world wide depression and major fuel shortages. I believe we have no hope of winning this war. Senator Johnson has fallen into the escalation trap. (See Professor Jiang and Professor Robert Pape and Professor John Mearsheimer.) When our citizens rebel against the economic costs and the deaths of our troops, the war will end. A victory over Iran may be desirable--but it is impossible.
Sen Johnson was so great during Covid and it definitely says something about his character that he was willing to have this discussion with you. However, I am so incredibly sad that he has fallen for all the pro-war propaganda. This act of aggression by Israel and the United States is so nonsensical. It is also illegal and immoral. At least the public is generally against it but that doesn't seem to stop the government from continuing with this horrible war anyway. It shows that our government is not representing our interests.
Senator Johnson states that we have to finish this war because we cannot tolerate the threat of a hostile Iran ready to develop nuclear missiles to attack us. The question is whether we CAN finish this war. Many historians note that once a war becomes a war of attrition, there is almost no possibility of a larger power dominating with air strikes alone. We see this, because we have lost in Vietnam, in Iraq, in Afghanistan,--and now we are going to lose again in Iran. Usually the war ends because the citizens find the cost is not worth the benefit. We don't have enough ground troops or patriot missiles to defend them. Without a draft, we do not have enough soldiers. The war is bankrupting us and likely to cause a world wide depression and major fuel shortages. I believe we have no hope of winning this war. Senator Johnson has fallen into the escalation trap. (See Professor Jiang and Professor Robert Pape and Professor John Mearsheimer.) When our citizens rebel against the economic costs and the deaths of our troops, the war will end. A victory over Iran may be desirable--but it is impossible.
Interesting points, thanks
Sen Johnson was so great during Covid and it definitely says something about his character that he was willing to have this discussion with you. However, I am so incredibly sad that he has fallen for all the pro-war propaganda. This act of aggression by Israel and the United States is so nonsensical. It is also illegal and immoral. At least the public is generally against it but that doesn't seem to stop the government from continuing with this horrible war anyway. It shows that our government is not representing our interests.
Please Sen Johnson, defund this war!