Why Now? What’s Next?
I should have known something was up when U.S. President Donald Trump changed the name of the Department of Defense to the “Department of War.” President Trump erroneously thinks that a name change will make the country’s war-like attacks on other countries acceptable. The only way to accomplish that is with Congressional approval and that of the American public.
President Trump’s objective in renaming the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Department of War via executive order is to project American military strength, foster a “warrior ethos” and prioritize decisive victory over “endless” defensive conflicts. By restoring the historic name used until 1947, he aims to signal a “peace through strength” approach to adversaries.
Trump, the self-declared peace president, seems willing to assert American power overseas. However, I have to ask whether he has considered the ramifications of his actions? At the time of writing this blog, four American troops were killed. Also, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down Sunday by Kuwaiti air defenses “due to an apparent friendly fire incident,” U.S. Central Command announced. Are we willing to pay the price for the military actions described below? The first step should be to answer the dual questions: Why are we attacking Iran now? and What do we expect from our military incursion? In other words, what is the objective?
Opportunity for Regime Change
The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on Iran last Saturday, which President Trump portrayed as an “opportunity for a change of government in Tehran.” Does he know how scary this statement sounds? Are we headed to War in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world? Should we be concerned that the attack on Iran comes just a few weeks after the January 3, 2026, U.S. special operation (“Operation Absolute Resolve”) that resulted in the capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from Caracas. The operation involved large-scale strikes on military targets in Venezuela by U.S. special forces (Delta Force) and CIA operatives. What was the goal? It is regime change in Venezuela–as well as Iran.
The attack follows weeks of repeated threats from Trump that the U.S. would strike Iran unless the country’s leadership agrees to U.S. demands, especially over Tehran’s nuclear program. Last Thursday, American and Iranian officials held a last-ditch round of mediated talks that ended without a breakthrough. Last Saturday, Trump announced that “major combat operations” were underway in Iran. The DoD has called the strikes “Operation Epic Fury.”
Literally, as I was writing this blog, the following came up: “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said today that the war in Iran will not be ‘endless,’ and that the U.S. goal was not regime change.” This is laughable [read my comment below]. Regime change is a given. Who does he think he is kidding? Regime change has been the U.S. and Israel’s goal for a long time.
I’m concerned! Will these manufactured conflicts eventually strike home? No, not in the U.S. directly, but directed towards our security forces/government embassies and military sites around the world as we have already seen in Iran’s response.
Board of Peace
The Board of Peace is a 2026-established international body chaired by President Trump, designed to oversee the enforcement of a Gaza ceasefire, manage regional reconstruction, and potentially address global conflicts. It acts outside the UN system with a chairman-centered structure, raising concerns about undermining the UN. Trump is the chairman, with significant authority, including veto power and the ability to name his successor. The executive board includes figures like son-in-law Jared Kushner. Perhaps he should add Barron Trump.
A website calling for President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, who is 19, to be drafted into the U.S. military was created, as the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The website “DraftBarronTrump.com” was created on February 28, the same day that the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, according to domain records. The language on the website employs a largely satirical tone, with false quotes attributed to members of the Trump family.
Why has Trump decided to attack Iran now? Probably because the “peace” talks with Iran bore no fruit. Then there is the long-term goal, which is for Trump to win the long-coveted 2026 Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. How ironic is that!
While originally focused on post-war Gaza, the Board of Peace’s charter now reflects a goal to “secure enduring peace” in other global conflict zones. Based on the information regarding the BoP, a fact sheet was developed explaining the changes highlighting the transition from a limited Gaza-focused initiative to a broader, more centralized, and “nimble” international organization led by the U.S. The name ‘Department of War’ conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to ‘Department of Defense,’ which emphasizes only defensive capabilities. “Restoring the name ‘Department of War’ will sharpen the focus of this department on our national interests and signal to adversaries America’s readiness to wage war to secure its interests,” the fact sheet continues.
Prior to signing the executive order establishing the BoP, Trump said, “This is something [we’ve] thought long and hard about; we’ve been talking about it for months.”
It doesn’t make me feel better now that all these months have gone by and Trump doesn’t share the proposal with the American people. Won’t it take funds from our budget to support BoP’s activities? Was Congress informed? The “power of the purse” is the constitutional authority granted to the legislative branch (Congress in the U.S.) to control government spending.
Trump added at the signing that under the original War Department, the U.S. achieved military victories in both world wars; however, victories turned into more prolonged conflicts that often resulted in a “sort of tie” once the War Department rebranded as the Defense Department.
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War
Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War, concurred with Trump’s contention. The secretary went on to say that the War Department would fight decisively to win and not get mired down in endless conflicts. “Maximum lethality, not tepid legality; violent effect, not politically correct.”
The preamble to the BoP agreement declares that durable peace requires pragmatic judgment, common-sense solutions, and the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed. It recognizes that lasting peace takes root when people are empowered to take ownership and responsibility over their future. It’s clear that the document has been crafted to provide a rationale for this action and justification if challenged by those that chose not to be on the BoP–or weren’t selected for it.
Membership in the BoP is limited to States invited to participate by the Chairman (guess who this is) and commences upon notification that the State has consented to be bound by this Charter, in accordance with Chapter XI. That’s all we need to know about the likelihood that the BoP will do any good. President Trump is the CEO and chairman of the BoP. The charter names him as the inaugural and lifetime chairman with extensive executive powers, including veto authority and the ability to select his successor. There is no meaningful oversight of the BoP, and Trump himself.
This morning, President Donald Trump told CNN’s Jake Tapper the “big wave” is yet to come in the war with Iran. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Iranians to “take advantage” of the opportunity for regime change, even as he said the war was not about ousting the government in Tehran. I guess he forgot his earlier comment on this issue as stated above. No one ever said Hegseth is the “brightest bulb in the room.”
What Should Be Next?
President Trump needs to include Congress and the American public so that the rest of the world knows that we are behind him–if we are. Only time will tell as it is most likely that as the war drags on, the American people will grow tired of it, especially if stock market prices continue to decline and the price of oil continues to go up.
I’m not saying the military incursion into Iran is a bad thing. I’m just saying the case for it hasn’t been made and, more importantly, there is no indication of the end game.
Blog posted by Steven Mintz, Ph.D., on March 2, 2026. Professor Mintz is an emeritus professor from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. His “Ethics Sage” blog is included in the top 90 blogs on philosophy as ranked by Feedspot. Check out Steve’s activities on his website.