U.S. Congressional War‑Making, Defense Industry Profits, and Regional Power Dynamics Fuel the Next Iran Conflict
Original framing: “Trump’s Formula for Forever Wars” — The Intercept
The United States has repeatedly intervened in Iran and its neighbours since the early 20th century, from the 1953 CIA‑backed coup to the 1980s Iran‑Iraq war support, establishing a pattern of external destabilisation that fuels contemporary mistrust. Recognising this lineage is essential to breaking the cycle of retaliatory policies.
The prospect of a new U.S.
war in Iran is less a product of a single legislator’s ambition than a manifestation of entrenched congressional war powers, defense‑industry profit structures, and a historical legacy of intervention that fuels regional mistrust. Indigenous mediation traditions, coupled with scientific foresight on climate and security interdependencies, reveal viable alternatives to kinetic escalation. By amplifying marginalised voices and employing trickster insights that expose the absurdity of perpetual war logic, policymakers can redesign institutional incentives, redirect fiscal flows, and embed culturally resonant diplomatic frameworks. Concrete reforms—such as supermajority deployment votes, defense divestment, and joint climate‑security initiatives—offer a roadmap to break the cycle of forever wars and foster a more equitable, sustainable regional order.