US Iran Policy Failure: 47 Years of Supporting the Wrong Side

I contacted my Senator about Iran.

This was the response:

"I strongly condemn the Iranian regime."
"I support Iranians yearning to be free."
"I cosponsored bills for internet access and human rights."

But

"President Trump has no authority to go to war with Iran."
"This is an illegal, unnecessary war."
"Congress must stop him."

I've seen this pattern my entire life.

They'll help the regime "improve." They'll oppose anything that actually removes it.

47 Years of That Approach

The Hostage Crisis Era (1979-1989)

• 1979: 444-day hostage crisis — 66 Americans seized at US Embassy
• 1983 (April): 17 Americans killed — US Embassy Beirut bombing (Islamic Jihad)
• 1983 (Oct): 241 US military killed including 220 Marines — Beirut barracks bombing (Hezbollah)
• 1984-1989: US officials kidnapped and killed in Lebanon (Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah)

Regional Terror Campaigns (1995-2003)

• 1995-1996: Multiple Hamas suicide bombings — Americans killed in Israel
• 1996: 19 US Airmen killed, 500 wounded — Khobar Towers Saudi Arabia (Hezbollah Al-Hijaz)
• 1998: 224 killed including 12 Americans — Kenya/Tanzania embassy bombings (Al-Qaeda, facilitated by Iran)
• 2001-2003: Americans killed in Israel (Hamas)
• 2003 (Oct): 3 US diplomatic personnel killed in Gaza bombing (Popular Resistance Committees)

The Iraq War Bloodbath (2003-2011)

603 US troops killed — representing 70-75% of all American combat deaths in Iraq — by Iranian-backed militias using roadside bombs and IEDs.

• 2007: 5 US soldiers killed in Karbala after Iranian Quds Force operatives disguised themselves as US soldiers (IRGC Quds Force)
• 2007: Former FBI Agent Robert Levinson disappeared in Iran, died in Iranian prison

Renewed Aggression (2019-2024)

• 2019: American contractor killed in Iraq rocket attack (Kataib Hezbollah)
• 2020: 109 US troops suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iranian ballistic missile attack on Ain al-Asad airbase
• 2023 (March): American contractor killed, 5 service members wounded in Syria drone strike
• 2023 (Oct): 46 Americans killed, 12 kidnapped in October 7th massacre (Hamas)
• 2024 (Jan): 3 US service members killed, 40+ wounded in Jordan drone attack (Kataib Hezbollah)
• 2023-2024: 180+ attacks on US forces in Middle East, 180+ Americans wounded, 3 killed
• 2024 (Nov): IRGC asset charged with plot to assassinate President Trump

The Iranian People's Sacrifice (2026)

40,000+ Iranians massacred during protests in January-March 2026 while the regime shut down the internet. Killed in the dark while the world couldn't watch.

The Pattern

This isn't a regime you reform.

It's a regime you remove.

For 47 years, the pattern has been:

"We condemn the regime, but we oppose removing it."

Translation:

"We'll let Iranians suffer under a murderous dictatorship, as long as we don't have to do anything meaningful about it."

What I Learned

There is no middle ground.

The Islamic Republic wants America eliminated. They want Israel eliminated. They want freedom eliminated.

You can't negotiate with that.
You can't sanction it away.
You can't "pressure" them into being humane.

There's only one winner in this battle.

Either the regime wins, or freedom wins.

Pick a side.