What is it good for?

My dog Wendi has a bad habit of waking me at 4 a.m. to go outside or communicate she’s starving. A 100-pound dog is not starving. Saturday morning wasn’t different. She got me up. I wasn’t happy. I knew there was no returning to bed for any significant time. I let her out. Fed her. Made coffee. Turned on the TV.

I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.

“Breaking News.” U.S. and Israel bombing Iran. What? As the day progressed, news didn’t get any better. Maybe Wendi detected that something was happening in the universe to alert me.

A 1970 Vietnam protest song, “WAR,” by Edwin Starr played in my head. “WAR. What is it good for? Absolutely NOTHING. Say it again. WAR. What is it good for? Absolutely NOTHING.” Sentiments of an unpopular war.

Southwest Iowa families from Adams, Montgomery and Union counties have loved ones deployed in National Guard units near Iran scheduled to return in April or May. A church member’s grandson will deploy in April. Iowans are involved in the conflict or soon will be.

Iowa National Guard, 2^nd Brigade Combat Team, 34^th Infantry Division known as “Red Bulls” headquartered in Boone are involved, carrying a historic, hard-fighting legacy since WWII.

Startling about Saturday morning was a lack of hints from the executive branch about bombing Iran. I watched the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 24. Military action got little mention.

Presidents don’t have unilateral authority to declare war. Article I, Section B, Clause 11 of the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war. The President is Commander in Chief (Article II, Section 2) to direct the military once war is authorized.

Congress has not declared war since 1942 but has authorized the use of military force (AUMF).

Four presidents used AUMF in recent history. George W. Bush following 9/11 and 2002 Iraq War. Barack Obama for counter-terrorism operations, including in Syria and against ISIS. Donald Trump in 2020 for strike against Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Joe Biden for strikes against Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. For two decades AUMF has been used in at least 22 countries.

Regardless of use, there is concern of presidential over-reach beyond the original intent of Congressional oversight.

A few steps were missed on Saturday. In all previous uses, the U.N. and NATO have been involved and had advanced knowledge about the authorization. They were U.S. allies.

Saturday the U.S. and Israel moved ahead without U.N. and NATO allies. Congress was not in the loop. No attempt was made to address U.S. citizens about why attacks were necessary.

Sunday, March 1, 2026. No Trump administration members on Sunday talk shows. The President was at Mar-a-Lago attending fundraisers and other events. Ted Cruz had no idea Iran was close to a nuclear weapon. Senate Intelligence Committee members said there was no evidence of a preemptive U.S. strike. The President released a video late Sunday afternoon acknowledging the American deaths and that there would likely be more.

Missiles and drones keep bombing.

The Iranian Supreme Leader is dead. 7 Americans service members from the 103rd Sustainment Command Army Reserve Unit based in Des Moines are dead. Three of the dead were Iowans, one had ties to Iowa, one was a Nebraskan, another was from Minnesota, and another from Florida. Sons, fathers, and brothers. A mom, daughter, sister. Lives and futures lost.

165 bodies have been found in a bombed girls’ school. Civilian death toll in the cities is unknown and likely thousands in the region.

Iran will retaliate. When? When we least expect it. What will the global economic impact be? You’ll find out at the gas pump. Stay tuned.

WAR. What is it good for?

A Reuters/Ipsos poll taken after strikes killed Iran’s leader showed 27% of Americans approve of the action, 43% disapprove and 29% are uncertain. 90% heard of the action. 56% believe Trump is too willing to use force to advance U.S. interests, a view held by 87% Democrats, 60% Independents and 23% Republicans as they considered recent U.S. strikes in Venezuela, Syria, and Nigeria. A Nobel Peace Prize may be unachievable.

WAR. What is it good for?

The wealthy make decisions and their children rarely serve. Military members including “Red Bull representatives follow orders. Families pray for safe return. Cycles continue.