March 31, 2026, 4:04 a.m. ET
When I hear updates on America’s war with Iran, I can’t help but think two things can be true at once: Like most Americans, I don’t want Iran to have nuclear capabilities, but we also don’t want our servicemembers sacrificing their lives in a lengthy conflict with a muddled objective.
Yet despite this, President Donald Trump has sent 3,500 additional ground troops to the Middle East as talks and threats with Iran ramp up. This is part of a conflict that Trump said he won three weeks ago. Sending ground troops to fight against a country that has vowed to “rain fire” upon U.S. troops seems unwise at best, potentially catastrophic at worst.
We are over one month into this war, and I struggle to see how this escalation squares with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s stated objectives, which he told reporters on March 27. He said our goals were to destroy Iran’s air force and navy, severely diminish Iran’s missile launching capability, and destroy their missile and drone factories without boots on the ground.
Perhaps Rubio means America could do this without sending tens of thousands of boots on the ground, but it seems like sending even a small number may lead to more.
I initially supported the goal of Operation Epic Fury, which I thought was to quell Iran’s nuclear capabilities that pose a threat to America. I do not want a country like Iran to have nuclear potential. But the war seems to be escalating. Republicans, Democrats and everyday Americans are questioning our goals and the means to those ends, as well they should. In fact, avoiding a lengthy war with Iran seems to be the only thing many Americans agree on right now.
Why are we sending ground troops to the Middle East?
I understand the value of wartime strategy and even the need for disciplined operational security, but Trump seems to be redefining OPSEC in a way that raises more questions than confidence.
On one hand, Trump suggests the conflict is nearing resolution. On the other hand, the president escalates it, deploying ground troops, issuing public threats and expanding objectives beyond the stated goal of addressing Iran’s nuclear program.
Warnings about targeting civilian energy and water infrastructure, pressure over the Strait of Hormuz and talk of seizing oil assets like Kharg Island don’t signal a coherent endgame.
Sen. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, told Politico, “We cannot have American troops on the ground in Iran. This is going to be such a risky operation. And for what purpose?”
I’m a conservative, but I, too, am asking this question.
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Arizona, a former Navy SEAL who served five wartime deployments, told Politico he was concerned, too: “I’m really, really hopeful this doesn’t turn into a boots-on-the-ground situation. My biggest concern this whole time is that this would turn into another long Middle Eastern war.”
According to the Yahoo/YouGov poll published March 26, three-quarters of Americans across the political spectrum are concerned that the United States is getting too involved in the Iran conflict.
Trump must end this conflict with Iran
The United States represents Western ideals ‒ religious liberty, freedom and personal responsibility ‒ often in contrast to regimes like Iran. But there’s a line between protecting Americans and U.S. interests and destroying another civilization we view as hostile in a forever war we end up losing.
I don’t claim to know exactly where that line is, or the intelligence behind current decisions, but we should walk it carefully.
I want to trust Rubio, but if the goal is to contain the nuclear threat, can that be done without escalation that leads to prolonged conflict? And if not, then what are we doing there?
I support our members of the military. We have a moral responsibility to protect ourselves and others, and to quell imminent nuclear threats.
Nonetheless, most Americans don’t want an escalated, lengthy war with Iran. There’s a good reason for that. We must make the right choice, even when it seems like there aren’t any.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.
