A War in Iran Won’t Make us Greater or Safer

We call on President Trump to end the violence and aggression against Iran and instead use peaceful diplomatic channels to deescalate tensions. We support the resolution passed by the House of Representatives that requires President Trump to get the consent of Congress before taking new military action against Iran.

Thirty years ago Ben & Jerry’s spoke out in opposition to the Gulf War against Iraq. Since then, years of unending wars in the Middle East have cost our nation dearly in lives and expense. President Trump’s intentional and irresponsible escalation of tensions with Iran is dangerous and threatens to perpetuate a cycle of violence and destabilization in the region. We fundamentally reject the notion that more wars and more violence make us safer or greater—in fact, they distract and detract from the things that do.

The global war on terrorism and the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria have cost our nation $6.4 trillion—that’s a stunning $7,623 from every taxpayer in America. The human cost across all major war zones has been massive—more than 800,000 people have been killed, including 335,000 civilians. More than 21 million people have been displaced as a result of the violence. 

This election year, we join millions of Americans who say we must stop spending on endless wars that perpetuate death and violence and make us less safe. Instead, we have to start spending to meet people’s basic human needs. Our country is the richest in the world, yet almost one in every five children lives in poverty, 28 million people have no health insurance, and the average college student now graduates with $30,000 in debt. America’s Founding Fathers envisioned a nation that would be a beacon for peace and justice, not weapons and war. Only when America invests in peace, justice, and the needs of our people will we be truly safe and truly great.