Folks – We came precipitously close to getting dragged into a nuclear war this weekend – and we’re not out of the woods, yet.

How did this happen?

On April 1st, Israel launched an unprovoked airstrike against an Iranian consulate in Syria. It had one purpose: to derail any diplomatic efforts underway between the United States and Iran.

And it worked. After a months-long pause, a U.S. military base in southern Syria was attacked in retaliation. But it didn’t end there. On Saturday, Iran launched a multi-pronged attack against Israel as a direct response to the assault on their consulate.

The response from the Israeli and U.S. government has been entirely predictable. Many U.S. officials – including my opponent Rick Larsen – swiftly condemned Iran’s actions against Israel without ever noting that Israel had struck first and ignited the current conflict. Many absurdly called it “unprovoked.”

Now, as we all hold our breath to see what comes next, Israel has called this a declaration of war and vowed to retaliate – while Biden has already pledged unconditional support for Israel.

Let’s be clear about what this means: The United States government has already publicly committed to back Israel no matter what – in a conflict that Israel instigated.

I am a lifelong anti-war activist, I am always on the lookout for public officials beating the war drums. Though I am unsurprised, I am furious that my opponent is helping Israel manufacture consent for endless war.

Folks, this is why we need voices for peace at the table where these decisions get made. You can help elect an anti-war activist to make sure we stop this violent cycle.

In 2001 Barbara Lee was the lone voice for peace when she voted against the AUMF. She knew that the AUMF was a blank check for war and that every president would abuse it.

I knew it, too. I was a high school math teacher at the time, and I spoke to my students openly about my opposition to the war. I urged them to think critically about the calls to invade.

I even hung a poster in my classroom quoting Barbara Lee in her vote against the war: “Let us not become the evil we deplore.”

President Biden has already gone around Congress twice funneling weapons and money to Israel to facilitate their genocide against Palestine.

No more blank checks for war. No more unconditional support for genociders. It’s time to end American militarism.

In solidarity,

Jason Call