Steve Kramer: An Unpopular War – except in Israel
Israel has often fought wars “with one hand tied behind its back.” It’s not alone. The US also shares that handicap in our joint war with Iran. We are civilized countries fighting a barbaric regime. Professor Dan Schueftan, director emeritus of the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa says, “The barbarians’ strongest weapon is to use our values against us.” Just now, during a “2-week ceasefire”, Iran is restocking its offensive weapons on its own and with help from its totalitarian allies, Russia and China. The negotiations between Iran and the US are not conclusive because Iran will do everything it can to avoid knuckling under to US demands. The West can’t defeat Iran at the bargaining table; Iran can run rings around any Western negotiators. Iran will string out and delay negotiations as long as possible while it rebuilds its offensive and defensive capabilities.
America’s erstwhile “allies” are not supporting US efforts, despite their dependence on oil shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. For example, Spain has refused to allow the US to enter Spanish air space for refueling its jets. “The new policy is the latest criticism of the United States from Spain, which has stood out in Europe for its consistent opposition to the Trump administration, including American immigration policies, support for Israel’s war in Gaza and the military operation to abduct and arrest President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/world/middleeast/spain-denies-us-air-base.html)
Other Western European nations also do not support the war. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced a halt to the automatic renewal of its defense agreement with Israel. Meloni cited “the current situation” as the reason for the downplaying of relations. Britain and France offer only very limited support in this war to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This, while Israel and America battle the jihadist Iranian rulers who loudly proclaim their ambition for Islam to rule the world. Only Germany’s chancellor has defended Israel’s attacks on Iran, saying Israel is doing the “dirty work” for all of us.
What about the partnership between the US and Israel? Is it a welcome achievement for the Netanyahu government? Yes! Israel has proven itself to be America’s best ally, standing shoulder to shoulder with America. Israelis are famously resilient, and we are steadfast in recognizing Iran’s threat to our existence as well as prepared to fight the mullahs and their troops to the finish. While the Trump administration recognizes the 47-year threat from Iran to destroy the US, most Americans are falling for the media-driven onslaught against the war. They have not been educated about the religious fervor of the Iranian jihadists, whose ultimate, worth-dying-for struggle is to force the West to adopt Islam, or at least become second-class citizens (dhimmis) under strict Islamic rule.
The Strait of Hormuz itself is only secondarily important for the US, which isn’t dependent on importing oil from the Middle East. But its strategic importance as an international waterway in the Indian Ocean, plus Iran’s intransigent goal of spreading Islamic rule “by the sword”, make America’s mission highly important. For 47 years, Iran has threatened to annihilate the Big Satan (US) and the Little Satan (Israel), a goal that only fanatics would strive for.
Despite Europe’s refusal to fight for its own interests, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu will battle to remove Iran’s hegemony in the Persian Gulf and its power to destroy the West. The majority of Americans and Europeans don’t recognize that Iran is a very dangerous enemy that must be defeated. The US-Israel fighting forces have teamed up in an unprecedented way to defeat the barbarians. All citizens of America and other countries should be rooting for us to destroy Iran’s evil regime
