While polls revealed that 70 percent of Americans opposed war with Iran, why has our government, at the behest of Israel and without a vote by Congress, begun bombing Iran’s major cities? The truth is that this war has been planned for 19 years.
In March of 2007, Amy Goodman interviewed retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who pulled the curtain back on Pentagon plans for the Middle East.
On Sept. 20, just nine days after 9/11, Clark told Goodman that he was at the Pentagon visiting Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. While there, one of the generals encouraged Clark into his office. He closed the door, according to Clark, and said, “We made the decision we’re going to war with Iraq.” Clark said, “Why?” He said, “I don’t know. … I guess it’s like we don’t know what to do about terrorists, but we’ve got a good military, and we can take down governments.”
Clark told Goodman that he went back to see the same general a few weeks later, “and by that time we were bombing in Afghanistan.” Clark said he asked if the U.S. was still planning to go to war with Iraq. “He said, ‘Oh it’s worse than that.’” The general then handed Clark a piece of paper that came from the secretary of defense’s office, Clark told Goodman. The general then said, “This is a memo that describes how we’re going to take out seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and, finishing off, Iran,” according to Clark.
And who promoted and supported regime change in every one of these countries? Bibi Netanyahu.
In Syria, Israel worked with the CIA to destabilize the Assad regime. Together they finally toppled it in December 2024. Then Israel moved its troops beyond the illegally occupied Golan Heights in Syria, which the Israelis claim is part of the greater Israel they are working so hard to create. Now, Syria is reportedly moving its own forces back into the region.
Jordan has long been a puppet of Israel and America. This can be seen clearly by the fact that Jordan intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, acting as a defender of Israel during our last war with Iran.
It is Israel that has convinced U.S. administrations from George H.W. Bush to Donald Trump to take military actions against these seven nations.
Libya and Israel were enemies for decades under Gaddafi. Israel pretended to be negotiating with Gaddafi before his fall, but it was actively supporting the U.S. in its desire to bring him down. Chaos in Libya has been the result.
Somalia had a long history of interventions by the U.S. related to the fear that Somalia would join Ethiopia in becoming a Marxist state. The U.S. supported regime change many times to gain a foothold in the country. Israel’s role is more opaque here, because it has wanted to become partners with its current leaders. Now, Israel hopes Somalia will house many of Gaza’s Palestinian refugees.
Israel has a strategic interest in normalizing relations with Sudan, as the Sudanese Red Sea coast is essential from a security and economic perspective. Sudan represents the heart of Africa, with deep extensions into the African continent thanks to its location, large geographical area, and expansive borders. The United States is working to transition Sudan from a military to a civilian government.
Then there is Iran, which Israel and the United States are attacking preemptively, for the second time. Iran was No. 7 on the Pentagon list and the country Israel was most committed to seeing fall.
Why do America and Israel feel secure in beginning this new illegal war? Because, for them, their previous war crimes, including the genocide in Palestine, have had no consequences. It’s time for Americans, and the rest of the world, to say no to endless wars that destabilize the world and put us all in harm’s way. We must join together to say, “No more war.”
Gale McNeeley writes to the Sun from Santa Maria. Respond with a letter for publication by emailing it to letters@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in March 26 – April 2, 2026.