The Recent Push for War With Iran

Relationships between the Western world and the Middle East since the end of the Cold War have been rather problematic for lack of a better term. Whether it be the rise of terrorist groups, the invading of sovereign states, or funding conflict, it is safe to say that the situations surrounding the various countries involved will not get better any time soon. On May 9, the United States had showcased a new military plan for the Middle East, which featured the implementation of up to 120,000 troops in the region to counter Iran according to the New York Times. President Trump has dismissed this notion by referring to the report as ‘fake news’.

But what exactly are the United States countering in the first place?

Various news agencies discussing the plan to “counter Iran” with increased military presence of 120,000 troops

According to a tweet from CBS Evening News,

Iran or Iranian-backed proxies used explosives to blow holes in four ships — two Saudi oil tankers and two others — near the Strait of Hormuz

There was no context given. There was no citation offered outside of the “initial assessment of the U.S. team sent to investigate”. There was no evidence. A lot of what is presently being said about Iran by media outlets, including the tweet mentioned above, seems somewhat similar to the Gulf of Tonkin incident that allowed for further United States involvement in Vietnam during the Cold War. As much as the term ‘fake…