U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has warned against American military involvement in Iran, drawing parallels to the Vietnam and Iraq wars, which he described as being built on lies that led to catastrophic consequences.
In a statement released on Sunday, Sanders criticized President Trump’s recent military strikes against Iran, urging the American public to reject what he called a dangerous path toward another devastating conflict in the Middle East.
Sanders, a longtime critic of U.S. military interventions, recounted how false narratives led to the Vietnam War in the 1960s, which cost over 58,000 American lives and left millions of Vietnamese dead.
He also pointed to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, referencing former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s testimony before Congress claiming Saddam Hussein was building nuclear weapons.
Rather than escalating military action, Sanders emphasized the urgent need to focus on America’s domestic challenges, including healthcare, education, and economic inequality.
The statement reads in part: “In 2002 we were told that we had to go to war against Iraq, that Iraq was building weapons of mass destruction, and that if we did not act quickly and decisively nuclear weapons would fall on America.
“Among those who told us that was none other than Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, who stated in testimony before Congress:
“There is no question whatsoever that Saddam is seeking… nuclear weapons… If you take out Saddam’s regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations.
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“The United States invaded Iraq and became embroiled in a long civil war there. No weapons of mass destruction were ever found.
“That war was based on a lie a lie which cost us 4,492 young Americans, 32,000 wounded, over half a million Iraqis and trillions of dollars.
“The American people were lied to about Vietnam, with tragic consequences.
“The American people are being lied to again today. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. The U.S. faces enormous problems here at home, which we must address. We cannot allow ourselves to be dragged into another Middle East war based on lies.
Sanders’ statement comes amid growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran following recent American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The international community, including Russia, China, and Pakistan, has called for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting and a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the region.