From Iraq to Iran

Remember how America was talked in 2003 into war with Iraq.

"Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD)."

"The smoking gun could be a mushroom cloud." (Condoleeza Rice).

Of course years later it was revealed that those were largely lies

"Search the 935 Iraq War false statements" – Center for Public Integrity https://share.google/Zaq6g7t3HeTP8vhIP

orchestrated by people who thought Saddam Hussein an existential threat to Israel.

Now we have many of the same people who beat the drums for war with Iraq 

beating the drums for war with Iran, 

either directly by the U.S., or indirectly by supporting Israel's explicit war with Iran.

For a projected parallel, see

"Iran's Khamenei will end up like Saddam Hussein, Israel Katz says" | The Jerusalem Post https://share.google/fiv0FZ7I7EkWuJe49

Here a comparison is made between the real demise of Hussein and a projected demise of Khamenei.

Clearly Israel in 2003 viewed Iraq as an "existential threat", 

just as it does in 2025 with regard to Iran.

Now we know that the supposed threat from Iraq was manufactured.

And in 2025. see

"Mr. Netanyahu ordered the strikes, declaring that 

Israel had discovered an “imminent” threat 

that required “pre-emptive action.” "

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/politics/trump-iran-diplomacy-conflict.html

What an explicit comparison!

BTW, that is in general an excellent article.

As to why Trump is shifting towards war, see

"How Trump Shifted on Iran Under Pressure From Israel

President Trump spent the first months of his term holding back Israel’s push for an assault on Iran’s nuclear program. With the war underway, his posture has gyrated as he weighs sending in the U.S. military." 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/us/politics/trump-iran-israel-nuclear-talks.html

For a description of Iran's nuclear program, see

"Does have Iran have nuclear weapons? What to know about their nuclear program" | CNN https://share.google/QM4nvurVNaUwFlUou

A key quote from that article:

"Tehran has used its stockpile of weapons-grade uranium as a bargaining chip in talks with the United States, repeatedly saying 

<B>it would get rid of it if US-led sanctions are lifted.</b>"

For a nearly identical view to mine, see

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/iran-israel-war-2672380464/