To the Editor:
Re “Trump Foresees Extended Attack on Iran as U.S. Adds Troops and Jets to the Region” (front page, March 3):
Modern wars can be fought in the air, but a ground operation is still required to achieve actual victory. President Trump says his air war against Iran could last at least four to five weeks.
What happens at the end of that time? What happens if a reconstituted autocratic regime is still in place in Tehran? What happens if Iran is still able to construct ballistic missiles? What happens if Iran’s nuclear material program is still operational to some extent?
And perhaps a more important question: What happens if Congress votes to oppose Mr. Trump’s war campaign? Does he bother to consider the ramifications of these questions?
Dan Donovan Brooklyn
To the Editor:
Re “Once Foe of Regime Change, Trump Asserts Power Abroad,” by Peter Baker (news analysis, front page, March 2):
I voted for President Trump in 2024 because I believed his promise of an “America first” foreign policy — one that would avoid unnecessary military entanglements and focus our resources at home. The recent military action against Iran appears to depart from that commitment.
As a constitutional conservative, I believe that decisions that risk war demand the utmost restraint and clear justification. As a fiscal conservative, I question committing American taxpayer dollars to another potential regional conflict when urgent needs remain here at home.
And as someone who supported the president in good faith, I did not expect American service members to be placed in harm’s way under circumstances that seem to contradict the principles that defined his campaign.
“America first” should mean prioritizing our national interests with good judgment, exhausting diplomatic options and avoiding open-ended conflicts abroad. I remain concerned that this course of action moves us in the opposite direction.
John R. Arbitell Jr. Malvern, Pa.
To the Editor:
Re “Trump and Netanyahu Did the World a Favor,” by Bret Stephens (column, March 2):
Assume that Mr. Stephens is right that the attacks on Iran are good for the United States and others for each reason he states. Then why not take the case to Congress and get a declaration of war consistent with the Constitution?
Wouldn’t that disarm critics up front? Wouldn’t that send the strongest messages to our enemies, stronger than just bombs or missiles? That the country, not just an administration or a political party, supports the action. That we’re most dangerous to our enemies when we are true to what most makes us great: our Constitution.
If after a reasonable time for deliberation Congress did not approve the declaration, then maybe there’s something we don’t know that we should. Such as that there’s no plan for what happens next.
Cliff Brush Sisters, Ore.
To the Editor:
My son is 43 years old. He was a sophomore in college when the United States was attacked on 9/11. For most of his adult life the United States has been at war.
His initial reaction to President Trump’s war on Iran may capture what many people of his generation are feeling. He wrote, “How many times am I going to wake up to a new war?”
I wonder how many other generations are similarly disheartened.
Pat Speth Sherman Roseburg, Ore.
Drug Ads Are a Resource for Many Patients
To the Editor:
Re “Direct Drug Ads Attract Scrutiny,” by Paula Span (The New Old Age, Science Times, Feb. 17):
As a patient living with systemic lupus for over 45 years, I’ve learned to manage my condition by seeking new treatments and engaging in meaningful conversations with my doctors.
One of the ways I stay informed about the latest treatments is through drug ads, which can provide information about treatments to me and many of the patients I work with. Knowledge empowers patients like us so we can make informed decisions about our care.
Claiming that drug ads lead to higher treatment costs is misleading; the studies cited overlook the findings of a National Bureau of Economics Research paper that said many of the “office visits from advertising are associated with use of non-advertised generic drugs or do not result in use of any drugs.”
As someone who cares about improving outcomes both for myself and my patients, I use every available resource to stay informed before making health care decisions. Proposals to ban or restrict drug ads would not help.
Dorothy Leone-Glasser Atlanta The writer is the executive director of Advocates for Responsible Care and Rx in Reach Coalition.
The post Trump, Iran and a Host of Questions appeared first on New York Times.
