Dear Progressive Reader,
I am writing this newsletter from London, England, where not all of the talk is about Brexit or #Megxit (the decision of Duchess Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to depart from their roles as “royals”—which even Donald Trump has commented upon). The conversation in the streets and on “the Tube” here is also about concerns over potential conflict with Iran—since British troops are also in the line of fire should the Iranian government decide to further attack bases in Iraq. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson answered questions from Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on the issue, and the British press even cited a column from The Progressive by Stephen Zunes in response to this debate. As Zunes notes, “if those in Washington, D.C., really want to protect American soldiers from pro-Iranian militia, they simply need to do what the Iraqis and a lot of others have been demanding: Get them out of Iraq. Now.”
This sentiment is also echoed in an op-ed from our Progressive Media Project by Lindsay Koshgarian. “A war with Iran would cost the United States and the world dearly. Experts say a full-blown conflict could easily kill hundreds of thousands if not millions of people. Other costs are less obvious, but nonetheless devastating,” she writes. “After eighteen years of nonstop war, it’s time to reinvest in the things that give us life, not destroy it. We can’t possibly afford a war with Iran. Our only choice is to stop it before it starts.” Leland Nally agrees, and adds an appeal to Democrats in the House and Senate to stand up to Trump’s warmongering. “Do not make this about process,” he says. “Do not soften your resistance with a feeble endorsement of Pentagon talking points. Do not waste any of your breath or precious airtime saying anything other than No War with Iran.” Also writing this week on the threat of war with Iran, Reese Erlich explains, “As of this writing, the tit-for-tat military attacks have subsided. But the underlying conflict is far from resolved. Trump seems intent on forcing regime change in Iran. Iranians aren’t going for it. The people of Iran and Iraq are biding their time until November, in hopes that Trump loses the election. So are many Americans.”
Keep reading, and we will keep bringing you important articles on these and other issues of our time. And, for the new year, don’t forget to click here to order your 2020 Hidden History of the United States calendar from The Progressive!
Sincerely,
Norman Stockwell
Publisher
P.S. – Thank you so much to everyone who generously contributed to The Progressive in 2019. We truly could not keep doing this work without your support! 2020 promises to be a busy year with many new opportunities. We look forward to traveling that road together with you, our readers and supporters, as we move forward in this new year.
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