Ignore AOC
In the wake of the latest successful strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the usual chorus of critics like—Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Hakeem Jeffries, and others—have raised alarms over the prospect of a “regional war.” But their framing is disingenuous. It is a cover-up in order to slow down Israel’s defeat over Iran and her enemies.
The regional war they fear has already been underway for nearly 20 months. It did not begin with Israel’s surgical strikes on Iranian facilities, nor with American bombings. It began with Hamas’s attack and continued when Iran and its axis of terror—Hezbollah, the Houthis, Shiite militias in Iraq unleashed coordinated aggression across multiple fronts, attempting to encircle Israel and make life unbearable.
When they speak of “regional war,” we should ask: with whom exactly? Egypt? Jordan? Saudi Arabia? The UAE? These nations are not only not looking for war with Israel—they’re increasingly cooperating, either openly or quietly, because they share a common adversary: Iran.
The true “regional actor” in this conflict is Iran. And Israel, with quiet backing from Western partners, has already dealt it a series of blows that have exposed the limits of its power. The Islamic Republic’s retaliatory capacity—once feared—has proven unable to come close to matching Israel’s capacity let alone the United States. Its proxies are decimated, its economy is in shambles, and its attempt at military deterrence has failed spectacularly.
Let us not forget: the United States, the most powerful military on Earth, is not and cannot be existentially threatened by Iran. Nor can Israel, which has demonstrated both defensive prowess and offensive lethality in the face of the Iranian regime.
So what, then, is the real concern behind the handwringing? Is it fear of asymmetric terror? Possibly. Iran has long used terrorism as a strategic tool. But if the concern were truly about global instability, then the primary focus should be on preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon. Because if Tehran were to go nuclear, it wouldn’t just trigger Israeli action—it would spark a nuclear arms race across the region, with Saudi Arabia and others rushing to catch up. That’s the real threat to regional and global security.
No, this isn’t about avoiding a regional war—it’s about stalling Israel’s strategic success. It’s about throwing cold water on a clear and necessary shift in the balance of power, one that increasingly favors Israel and her regional partners over a faltering Iranian regime. It’s about discomfort with the idea of a Western-aligned victory—of Israel and the United States winning.
If you’re confused about how to feel right now, just listen to AOC and Bernie Sanders and do the opposite.
Because for once, Israel is not merely surviving. It is winning. The United States and Israel are working together as a team in ways that have previously not been seen. That’s not a cause for fear. That’s a cause for celebration.
