Opinion | What Are We Fighting For?

The chairman of the “Board of Peace” has pulled the United States into a war. “At least six U.S. service members have now died.” And if you’re wondering why and for how long, don’t hold your breath for a clear answer from this administration. “Why in the world would we tell you, the enemy, anybody, what we will or will not do in pursuit of an objective?” “And we projected four to five weeks. We have capability to go far longer than that.” Times Opinion national security correspondent Bill Hennigan argues that the administration did not fulfill its responsibility of preparing our nation for a war and is not providing adequate information to help the public assess the situation. That is a betrayal to the American people and the soldiers fighting for us. When will this conflict come to an end? Is a U.S. ground invasion imminent or necessary? While CENTCOM reported 50,000 troops have been deployed and released the details of soldiers killed, we’re still wondering: What exactly are they fighting and dying for? We just don’t know. The U.S. government is obligated to actively inform the public as to why we should take part in a war long before any military action takes place. There is precedent for this. “Its tyrant leaders, Saddam Hussein ——” “Saddam Hussein and his regime will stop at nothing.” Presidents should understand they’re acting on behalf of the American people. We have the right to know why we’re going to war as early as possible. But in the months and weeks leading up to the current operation in Iran, Trump and his officials failed to offer a concise, consistent reason for American intervention. Currently, they say, we are at war to “destroy the missile threat. Destroy the navy.” But in January, striking Iran was about “the deadly response to mass protests.” Scratch that. It’s actually to ensure that Iran makes no future attempts “to rebuild their weapons program.” Or is it about overthrowing the Iranian government? “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.” So which is it? To maximize transparency, the U.S. government typically takes questions from the press about the progress of a military campaign and the intention behind it. But in the fall of 2025, the Pentagon required Department of War reporting to go through their approval first, prior to publication. Swaths of journalists who refused to abide by this attack on the press lost access to the Pentagon. And now much of the Pentagon press corps has been replaced by right-wing and Trump-aligned outlets. “Daily Wire.” “LindellTV.” “The Daily Caller.” So while Hegseth is ostensibly fielding questions from reporters about the current operation, the information is being filtered through individuals who have a professional interest in bolstering Trump. This is a part of the administration’s strategy to control narratives about them. The public has the right to be concerned that they’re subsequently trying to control what the press reports about Iran. Time and time again, the administration has indicated that U.S. commitment to the war is open ended. “Take all the time we need. It could be six. It could be eight. It could be three.” And they have begun to give updates. “Dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs targeting deeply buried ballistic missile launchers.” Yet it’s not clear how these tactical military victories are part of a broader strategic plan for Iran. “We’re focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us.” Meanwhile, American tax dollars are paying for a war Trump has not prepared the public for, and U.S. troops are sacrificing their lives. We deserve to know more.