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Home / US-Israel-Iran / Can We Ever Trust the Government To Be Honest About War?
US‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

May 5, 2026

Can We Ever Trust the Government To Be Honest About War?

By Alexander Langlois

For decades, the U.S. government has been willing to start wars but not strategically and transparently manage them, consistently misleading its citizenry to justify adventurism abroad. The conduct of the Trump administration in the current war with Iran is no exception.

President Donald Trump’s claims of “victory” as the war persists through a blockade and multiple troop surges without a clear win-case highlights how optics designed to mislead dictate Washington’s approach to war today. This war could mark a crucial lesson and potential turning point, however, forcing the nation to come to grips with the real costs of violent conflict.

Read at Reason

Author

Alexander
Langlois

Contributing Fellow

Defense Priorities

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