LETTER: We are inviting more total wars

April 14, 2026

To the Editor:

President Trump’s bombast reached new depths with his threat to bomb Iran back to the stone age and destroy “an entire civilization” unless Iran agreed to a ceasefire.

But it seems to me that “total war,” war without guardrails or care taken to avoid civilian casualties, is already the new normal for the United States, Israel and Iran.

A lack of restraint dramatically has been on display in the savage Israeli retaliation on the Palestinians after the savage attack by Hamas on Israel. The United States supplied the bombs and logistical support for the war that has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians as revenge for the Hamas killing of 1200 Israelis. (That is 60 “eyes for one eye.”)

The US Secretary of Defense (or Secretary of War as he prefers to be called) has clearly outlined the war in Iran will be fought with “no stupid rules of engagement...no politically correct wars...no nation building quagmire.”

At the Pentagon, Hegseth prayed for US troops to inflict “overwhelming violence against those who deserve no mercy...We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.”

I think the Jesus I learned about in Bible School might have some questions about that request.

Hegseth sounds like Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Minister of Finance and the West Bank, who declares that Gaza “will be entirely destroyed” and civilians “will start to leave in great numbers to third countries.” Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir also called for forced displacement of Palestinians. These leaders now talk about driving Lebanese civilians out of a 20-mile deep zone in southern Lebanon. That sounds like ethnic cleansing to me.

Isn’t the United States against that sort of war?

Why then are schools, universities, journalists and hospitals being attacked in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon?

I am sure that Vladimir Putin is pleased to hear of the US and Israel’s commitment to total war because it validates his no-holds-barred invasion of Ukraine. I always thought the United States’ conduct of war was limited to military targets, and therefore more moral, than Russia’s or Iran’s.

But I fear that is no longer true.

And if it is OK for the United States to kidnap the president of Venezuela, place an oil embargo on Cuba to force it to submit to US desires, and destroy Gaza, Iran and Lebanon, then who would be surprised if China decides it is a great time to invade Taiwan?

I fear we are not only embracing total war but inviting more total wars.

—Steve Hindy, Brooklin

Editor’s note: Hindy serves on the Rising Tide’s board of directors.

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