Trump’s Iran Strikes Skip Consent, Organize Now
Interview with Iraq Vet John Kamin
On this episode of the Rick Smith Show Rick fields listener despair over Trump’s unauthorized Iran strikes and welcomes John Kamin, Iraq War veteran and Common Defense Deputy Director of Government Relations, to map resistance. Kamin contrasts 2002’s Iraq buildup, where Bush manufactured consent via media blitz and congressional votes, with Trump’s casual launch of airstrikes killing Ayatollah Khamenei, skipping all pretense of public buy-in.
No Permission, No Plan
Kamin warns silence equals consent in this “entitlement era,” urging action at commondefense.us/actions direct messages to Congress demanding a War Powers Resolution vote. Unlike clearer Caribbean cases, Iran’s complexity tempts waverers, but constituent voices, Democrat or Republican, can sway them. He fears martyrdom backfire, assassinating an 86-year-old zealot with health issues rallies hardliners, activates Iran’s DEFCON-style contingency fracturing government control, unlike Israel’s precise Hezbollah decapitation.
Troops as Props
Trump’s “you’ll have that” shrug over three dead at Camp Buehring echoes his pattern of treating service members as disposable optics. Kamin, haunted by Iraq airport send-offs amid moral doubts, dreads no “welcome home” banners if escalation erodes support especially with shifting excuses like Rubio’s convoluted preemptive logic. Iran’s 90 million people, battle-hardened security apparatus, and popular hatred of the regime make it no Iraq protests hinted at internal change, but bombs don’t build democracy.
Escalate or Deal?
Polls confirm Americans oppose war, Kamin sees Trump’s impulsiveness (aborting Yemen’s Iron Hammer early) as double edged possibly curtailing Iran chaos, but paired with no clear mission, it risks troops downrange. Iran, bloodied with rising U.S. casualties, won’t concede easily, mirroring Hamas’ post-leader defiance. Media must amplify human costs in blood and treasure.
Kamin rallies sign petitions as defiance, flood Congress to reclaim constitutional war powers, support troops by denying blank checks. From despair to disruption organize before privation locks in theocracy harder. Check commondefense.us.