The President who vowed to prevent wars has started another one. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump announced U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, as well as the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. To justify the airstrikes, Trump cited the Iranian regime’s crumbling legitimacy as well as its nuclear and missile programs. 

It is unlikely that any American shed a tear for Khamenei, who encouraged his supporters to chant “Death to America,” funded terrorism and used Iran’s attempts to create nuclear weapons as a bargaining chip. However, this is a deeply unpopular war. According to a CNN poll, only 41% of Americans support this conflict, and the Washington Post found two-thirds of Americans saying that Trump has not clearly explained the goals of the ongoing operation. Popular or not, this war seemed inevitable, and will likely spread throughout the Middle East. Perhaps this conflict will free the Iranian people, forever remove an American adversary and prevent the world from having to fear a nuclear-powered Iran. For now, gas prices are rising for Americans, and 18 American lives have been lost in another unwanted war in the Middle East.