250 Words: Iran Excursion

March 15, 2026.

When it became clear DJT does not know the difference between “excursion” and “incursion” I was not surprised. Such gaffes are not uncommon. Remember when DJT declared Joe Biden was not the “sharpest bulb”? Oh, well. Everybody experiences the occasional faux pas. But after the US military “obliterated” Iran’s Kharg Island, DJT reported the U.S. might bomb it “a few more times just for fun.” Was that a joke? Perhaps. But it’s a bad joke.

Already the two-week-old war has cost more than 2000 civilian lives. Fourteen American families are mourning the deaths of their loved ones. And the nation that cannot – or will not – feed its hungry children spends an estimated $1 Billion dollars a day in direct military expenses. A time for snarky comments? I don’t think so. Locally, the price of gas is up nearly $.60/gallon. For 10,000 Iowa minimum wage workers, $7.25/hour is a problem. And, as the skyrocketing cost of energy ripples through the economy; the affordability challenge facing so many working Iowans will intensify into an affordability crisis.

DJT tells us this “excursion” will end when Iran cries “uncle.” But I don’t see that happening soon. At least now we’re asking our allies for support. Something we should have done before February 28. Maybe this will hasten an end to this ill-conceived, illegal misadventure. I sure hope so. Look, no one needs to convince me that the extremists in Tehran are dangerous. No doubt about it. But, so are the extremists in Washington.