Iran strikes bring out the worst in everyone
Political operatives on both sides have a very bad habit of painting opposition to military conflict as support for America's enemies.
As is always the case, the U.S. military strikes on Iran on February 28 brought out the worst in people, and again revealed the simplistic and childish "all or nothing" mentality that has poisoned our politics and our culture. Having a nuanced take is impossible and pointing out something bad is always met with "whataboutism."
For example, the Ayatollah Khamenei murdered more 30,000 of his own people in 2026 alone in response to pro-democracy protests. The Ayatollah Khomeini ordered female political prisoners to be raped if they were virgins, so that they would not enter heaven. Some have denied that the Khamenei has continued that practice, but it is well-documented that Khamenei oversaw the systematic rape and sexual torture of female political prisoners while he was supreme leader. Can we agree that is evil, without pointing to people killed by U.S. bombs, or anything Israel is doing?
After the airstrikes exterminated Khamenei, the Washington Post described his bushy white beard and easy smile. OK, Orange Man Bad, I get it. But did you know that it is possible to think this war is a bad idea and also not romanticize a mass murdering terrorist and war criminal?
Opposing a military strike without the consent of Congress, or even being very skeptical of the military operation on the basis of an America First foreign policy, is not the same as supporting Iran. Political operatives on both sides have a very bad habit of painting opposition to military conflict as support for or loyalty to America's enemies. This "all or nothing" business is childish and needlessly simplistic. It is also shamefully dishonest. The idea that conservative pundit Matt Walsh supports the Iranian regime is absurd on its face.
One of the sillier memes I saw immediately following the strikes is that the women of Iran were "freed" by the death of Khamenei. That is simply not true. There may well be changes in Iran that follow the strikes and lead to a better life for the Iranian people, but pretending that the women of Iran were "liberated" as of March 2 is nonsense. Honestly, people, can you make the case for President Trump's policy without taking an absurdly maximalist position? Does every single thing have to be fulsome praise, with absolutely no sense of proportion?
People, we need to stop playing these games. This is serious business, and we need to take it seriously. This means you should stop praising mass murderers, war criminals and terrorists just because you hate President Trump. This means you should stop lying about your political opponents. This means that you should not immediately take a maximalist position just because the President likes to be praised. This means stop the childish "whataboutism" where you are emotionally incapable of recognizing evil without whining about some other thing that offends you.
Basically, this means you need to grow up.