What President Biden decides to do over the next 48 hours could determine whether or not we go to war with Iran.
Over the weekend, three U.S. soldiers were killed and dozens injured in a drone attack launched by militias operating along the Iraq-Syrian border. This senseless loss of lives is just the most recent example of escalating strikes between the U.S. military and a variety of forces in the Middle East.If one thing is clear since the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7th, it is that violence begets more violence. We’ve seen this playbook before — trying to bomb our way to peace didn’t work in Iraq or Afghanistan — and it won’t work now.
Thankfully, there is a different path to choose. These attacks are directly linked to the ongoing violence in Gaza. The last time there was a temporary ceasefire, the attacks on U.S. troops in the region ceased. And right now, negotiations are happening for another potential ceasefire in Gaza. Such a deal would save Palestinian lives, protect U.S. soldiers by broadly de-escalating tensions in the region, and likely involve the release of hostages held in Gaza. Taken together, these steps would help create the conditions necessary to find a path to a lasting peace.
But hawkish politicians are pounding the pavement as I write this, advocating for war. They’re using the absurd argument that not responding with violence makes the U.S. look weak. We know that’s not true, we know that strength is not about using violence, but rather finding solutions that actually work, like diplomacy. That’s why it’s so crucial for you to add your name to this petition right now calling on President Biden to choose a ceasefire in Gaza over a regional war in the Middle East.