Epic? Certainly.

 One could also describe the events of this past week as bombastic. 

I confess to being surprised when I saw we had attacked Iran. A co-worker on the Friday prior told me we were going to do so, and I disagreed. Why the actions of our current president continue to surprise me, I don't know, but here we are again. Shame on me. 

Since first reading the shocking news that we had attacked, which somehow grew even more shocking that the Ayatollah had been killed, I've been mulling over these events. As a habit, I read the news daily. I have my go-to non-partisan filters like The Pour Over and 1440, but I don't limit myself to those; I just make sure to use my brain and not let bias ruin my train of thought. So I've been reading through the news every day, following along, and trying to understand.

Trying to understand. 

Not understanding. 

Feeling uneasy. 

That's what is bothering me. I don't understand. So, I guess here I'm going to share a few questions I have because I need to work them out, and let's be honest, my readership is small enough that it is likely a safe space. 

Why did we attack?

That's the first question I have, and it still remains unanswered. The President has said we attacked because Iran was about to have fully operational nuclear weapons—but there's been no evidence of that. He has also stated we attacked because Iran was going to attack us first—again, without evidence. That isn't to say either situation isn't true, and I realize that if either statement is true, a quick attack without building rapport with the American people makes sense. But still, is that why we attacked? If either reason were the case, could not there be a special session of Congress so that the evidence could be presented and Congress could vote on whether or not to go to war? 

War Powers Act

My understanding is that the Executive has the authority to do this under the War Powers Act, but is limited to 40 days of action before Congress must approve or disapprove (thus ending) the conflict. I also understand that what typically happens is Congress will debate and do nothing for a period of time, functionally making the 40 days turn into something much longer. But still, that number is significant because even the president has said he anticipates the conflict lasting more than 40 days.

• So what exactly is going on?
• What is the plan?
• When and how does this end? 

How will this impact diplomacy?

It is well documented that when we attacked Iran, we were in the midst of diplomatic negotiations with Iran in Switzerland. Certainly, this creates an issue of trustworthiness and credibility, hopefully one that is limited to America under Trump and not just America. But how do you trust someone or a government, and even enter into attempted diplomacy with a country that has just proven they'll sit at a table and try to work things out with you one day, and the very next day, launch thousands of missiles at your country because... I don't know why. Because they don't like how the negotiation is going? 

It is not fair

Cue the crying, cliche, baby whining.

I know how that sounds, yet it is true. 

This isn't fair.

I think this is my greatest source of discomfort right now over what is happening. It hit me in the grocery store yesterday. I was looking for a prepackaged salad for lunch because I'd been in a rush in the morning and didn't have time to pack anything, and I realized that it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that my life was completely unchanged from before we attacked a first-world power. It isn't fair that as I look around in the Kroger, no one is impacted by the fact that we are at war. It isn't fair that all over the Middle East debris is falling on cities, fires are starting, missiles are incoming and people are taking cover in bunkers, dog fights are happening, drones are appearing out of nowhere creating destruction, homes are blowing up, families are being torn apart, refugees are being created, tourists are stranded, businesses are closed down and... I'm trying to find a salad that looks appetizing. We shouldn't be able to fight a war without the country actually feeling the effects, even if it is a ration or supply drive or something. It isn't right to rain destruction on other countries, and the biggest problem I'm facing is whether I should go with the Cobb or the Southwest salad.  A country that goes to war should be a country that goes to war. 

Not just a country that is completely unaffected.

Yeah, so that's what's on my mind. Where do we go from here?