Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke before the Congress to reaffirm the war-time alliance between America and Israel and received thunderous applause from American lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats. In the rhythm of clapping that resounded within the walls of the Capitol, however, many heard the familiar beat of the drums of war.
In his speech to the joint session of the House and Senate, delivered on Wednesday (July 24), Netanyahu openly called for America’s support in an impending battleground conflict with Iran-backed militant forces. He included Hamas among them, though without offering any concrete evidence, since the militant group was responsible for the mayhem of October 7 last year – the event that would launch Israel’s relentless bombing of Palestinians in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s message in his speech was clear: he expects a bigger regional war in the Middle East and he wants the support of the United States. He even suggested setting up a NATO-like military alliance within the Middle East to “counter the growing Iranian threat.”
At a time when NATO-supported Ukraine is losing its war against Russia and a likely victory of President Trump at the ballot box can imperil the Pentagon’s flow of excess billions in war-time cash, Netanyahu’s call for preparing for a new regional war sparks skepticism of his real motives. The military-industrial-congressional complex of America played liberals and many Republicans effectively in funneling billions in excess funding – the so-called military and financial aid – over defending Ukraine against Russia. The Biden administration made sure that no accountability is held of these funds released to the Pentagon. Now when the Oval Office is likely seeing a shift, the war profiteers are shifting gears accordingly. For a right-wing administration, a war threatening Israel is the dream card to play since conservatives are sold readily on it.
The American establishment’s plan of using Israel to start a war with Iran is not only apparent in Netanyahu’s rhetoric in D.C. but also by the activation of the fake news factories that loyally serve the military-industrial-congressional complex. In less than a week of the deep state’s failed assassination attempt on President Trump in Pennsylvania, mainstream media propagated that in recent weeks US intelligence has learnt of some Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump. No evidence was offered to back up this alleged intelligence; neither were the intelligence officials named or interviewed. The goal of the so-called news was obvious – paint Iran as a threat to America on American soil and prepare the pro-Israel conservatives for a potential war with Iran.
The White House itself didn’t hold back on propaganda against Iran as Netanyahu’s address to the Congress sparked public protests in D.C. White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby claimed without evidence that Iran was funding the protests in America.
Prior to Netanyahu’s address before the Congress, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited Washington and met with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in addition to other key officials. The meeting was meant to resolve some key issues between the two allies, including arms supply to Israel.
In the face of these efforts by warmongers to win popular support for war with Iran, some conservative analysts and commentators are vocally opposing such a prospect. Combat veteran and military analyst Col. Douglas Macgregor, who served in the Trump administration, wrote on X (Twitter) that policymakers in DC are contemplating war with Iran because “none of these corrupt DC officials seem to give a damn.”
