Opinion by Idaho Senator Brian Lenney of Nampa
We haven’t had a real war since 1942. The U.S. has a long history of diving into wars on false pretenses, from the Spanish-American War to Afghanistan, each sold with lies that betray our founding principles.
They say that the first casualty in war… is truth.
So, excuse me if I roll my eyes at the thought of America being dragged into WWIII based on the decades long threat of Iran being “days away from getting nukes.”
They’ve been saying that since I was a kid.
So now, a brief history lesson…
The Spanish American War
The U.S. claimed the USS Maine was sunk by Spanish sabotage to justify war.
In reality, the explosion was likely an accident, and exaggerated stories of Spanish cruelty in Cuba fueled public support. The goal was not liberation but seizing Spanish colonies to build an American empire. Cuba and the Philippines merely exchanged one ruler for another. Many view this as the moment the U.S. abandoned the Founders’ non-interventionist principles, trading integrity for imperial ambition (a major pattern that escalated in the 20th century) with no benefit to the nation.
The Korean “War”
They said North Korea’s invasion of South Korea was a sudden communist assault that threatened “global freedom.”
In reality, the U.S. and Soviets divided Korea after WWII, creating rival states that clashed repeatedly before the war. The U.S. supported South Korea’s authoritarian regime and inflated the Soviet threat to justify intervention. It was about projecting power in Asia, not “saving democracy” (another phrase used ad nauseum in the 20th and 21st century). This war killed 36,000 Americans in a stalemate that achieved nothing.
The Vietnam “War”
The Gulf of Tonkin incident was presented as North Vietnamese aggression to rally support for war.
In reality, one attack was minor, another made up, and the U.S. escalated tensions deliberately. Vietnam posed no direct threat. Yet the U.S. inserted themselves into a civil war anyhow. This was a catastrophic waste of 58,000 American lives, millions of Vietnamese, and billions in costs, all for no national gain, enriching only defense contractors, and leaving Vietnam in a worse state than before our intervention.
The Panama Invasion
The U.S. justified invading Panama by claiming Manuel Noriega was a drug-trafficking dictator endangering American lives and the Panama Canal.
In reality, Noriega was a longtime CIA asset until he resisted U.S. control. The drug charges were amplified to justify removing him, and the canal was never at risk. The invasion killed hundreds of Panamanian civilians and secured U.S. influence in Central America. This was an overreach, wasting lives to maintain regional dominance.
The Gulf “War”
The U.S. claimed Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait endangered global stability and cited stories of Iraqi soldiers killing Kuwaiti babies.
In reality, the baby-killing tale was a PR stunt by Kuwaiti royal and U.S. firms. The U.S. had supported Saddam against Iran until he targeted oil-rich Kuwait. The war was about securing oil and influence, not justice. We regrettably squandered American lives for corporate interests, with no reason to play global enforcer.
The Kosovo “War”
The U.S. and NATO claimed intervention in Kosovo was needed to stop Serbian genocide against ethnic Albanians.
In reality, the genocide claims were overstated; the conflict was a civil war with atrocities on both sides. The U.S. backed the Kosovo Liberation Army, a group with terrorist ties, to weaken Serbia and expand NATO’s influence in the Balkans. The bombing campaign killed civilians and destabilized the region. This is yet another unnecessary intervention, entangling the U.S. in a conflict with no national interest.
The Afghanistan “War”
The invasion was sold as a response to 9/11 to dismantle al-Qaeda and capture Bin Laden.
In reality, the mission was always nation-building to secure a foothold near Iran, China, and Russia. The war cost $2 trillion, thousands of American lives, and ended in a disgraceful, shameful withdrawal by the bumbling fool, Joe Biden. It was a 20-year distraction from national priorities.
The Iraq “War”
The invasion was justified by claims of Saddam’s “weapons of mass destruction” and al-Qaeda connections.
In reality, no weapons or links existed; the intelligence was manipulated to sell the war. The true aim was reshaping the Middle East for U.S. and allied interests, securing oil, and establishing bases. This reckless venture cost us trillions, thousands of American lives, and regional stability, yielding nothing but debt and chaos for the nation.
The Libya Intervention
The U.S. claimed Gaddafi was on the verge of genocide, demanding urgent intervention to save civilians.
In realty, the goal was eliminating a leader who resisted Western control. NATO’s bombing, backed by the U.S., turned Libya into a failed state with jihadists and slave markets. Yet another pointless conflict that harmed America’s interests and left destruction in its wake.
The Pattern is Clear
Each “war” was sold with falsehoods like sinking ships, fake atrocities, and nonexistent threats to serve globalist elites… not the American people.
Many see these as betrayals, draining blood and treasure while eroding sovereignty. The solution is to stay out of foreign conflicts, focus on home, and reject the neocon warhawk lies that fuel endless wars.
