Protecting Civilians: The Strength and Ideal of American Leadership

Explore how the US's founding principle of limiting war's damages is being tested, as the threat to strike Iranian civilian infrastructure raises ethical concerns.
The United States was founded on a principled pledge to limit the damages of war, even if the country has often struggled to uphold this commitment. As the US approaches a critical moment in its conflict with Iran, the question of protecting civilian lives has come to the forefront.
Far from expressing remorse for his threat to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure, President Trump is doubling down as we approach his self-imposed deadline for Iranian submission, set for 8 pm ET on Tuesday. Rather than seeking a decisive military victory, the President has signaled a willingness to inflict devastating harm on an entire civilization, stating that


