As tensions with Iran rise, the world may be witnessing a deliberate playbook being revived—one designed to draw the Middle East into another protracted conflict. Much like the misleading intelligence that led to the Iraq War, recent narratives surrounding Iran reveal striking similarities to past manipulations. This time, however, the stakes are compounded by the desperate ambitions of the military-industrial complex, which appears intent on setting the stage for a conflict that could be continued under a Kamala Harris presidency or become an unstoppable force under Donald Trump, should he return to office.
The Iraq War began with a dossier filled with dubious claims and plagiarized information, strategically crafted to shape public opinion and secure political buy-in for an invasion. Leaks of alleged intelligence were carefully released to paint Iraq as an imminent threat, while leaders like Hans Blix at the UN disputed these claims, offering a more measured assessment of Iraq’s actual compliance. Nonetheless, the narrative stuck, supported by an unwavering media apparatus that advanced the case for war—ultimately resulting in catastrophic losses for Iraq and substantial profits for defense contractors.
Fast forward to today, and it’s clear the same script is being rehashed. This time, Iran stands in the crosshairs, targeted as the next adversary in the Middle East. The unverified intelligence reports and selective narratives echo the “smoking gun” rhetoric that preempted the Iraq invasion, signaling the intentions of those seeking to keep the defense industry well-funded and engaged. The motivations are anything but ambiguous; the military-industrial complex, comprising defense contractors and aligned political forces, sees continuous conflict as an economic lifeline, an industry where “business needs to flow.” And it is the Middle East, once again, that they are angling to turn into a profitable war zone.
Should Kamala Harris ascend to the presidency, there’s reason to believe she would uphold these deep-seated ties to the defense sector, inheriting and perhaps intensifying the momentum for such a war. With close associations to Wall Street, Big Pharma, and defense lobbies, she represents a faction firmly embedded within the establishment, one that is more inclined to continue fueling conflict rather than scaling it back. The complex seeks predictability and commitment to its agenda—traits that align well with Harris’s connections to key institutions backing the military machine.
On the other hand, a Trump administration may face an uphill battle in resisting these powerful forces. Trump, who has previously criticized “endless wars” and shown reluctance to escalate conflicts abroad, would nonetheless find it challenging to counter the momentum if a war were already underway or deeply institutionalized. The deep state, which includes a sprawling defense industry and its allies across government, has mechanisms to limit a president’s control—especially if that president disrupts their long-term objectives. Trump’s attempts to disentangle from conflicts might become ineffectual, as he’d likely encounter entrenched resistance within the apparatus eager to ensure that “business” continues uninterrupted.
Ultimately, it’s a cycle that illustrates how the military-industrial complex orchestrates situations to guarantee a steady revenue stream, driven by defense contracts, weapons manufacturing, and “reconstruction” initiatives that inevitably follow destruction. The lessons from Iraq stand as a stark reminder of how manufactured narratives can justify unimaginable costs—costs that ordinary people pay with their lives and nations pay with their futures. The parallels with Iran, amid escalating rhetoric and a relentless media campaign, suggest that the stage is being set once again. Unless these narratives are challenged and transparency prioritized, the Middle East could once more find itself engulfed in a manufactured crisis, strategically timed and built to enrich those for whom war is simply “good business.”
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