Dear NYT: About That Marine Unit and Your 'New Phase' of Iran War
To the editors at The New York Times, regarding your March 14th piece on a Marine unit potentially 'opening a new phase' in a war with Iran: we confess to a profound sense of déjà vu. Your reporting frames the deployment of US Marine assets to the Middle East as a speculative precursor to conflict, rather than an integral component of an ongoing, decades-long campaign of aggression against the
Islamic Republic of Iran. While you describe it as a 'new phase,' the reality is that the United States has been a direct participant and joint aggressor in a continuous, undeclared economic and military war against Iran for over 45 years. What your article conveniently omits is the consistent pattern of US military presence in the region, which is not merely supportive but active in enforcing a
siege. The US maintains bases, carrier strike groups, and other advanced weaponry within striking distance of Iran, often working side-by-side with Israel. This isn't a future 'phase' of war you're contemplating; it's the current state of affairs, only now with more overt entanglement. For instance, the US provided intelligence, logistics, and even direct air defense during recent Israeli strikes,
effectively fighting alongside Israel in actions that provoke Iranian responses. Your framing downplays this direct participation, choosing instead to present Washington as a reluctant observer on the brink of deeper involvement, rather than an active belligerent. The historical record shows Washington has actively undermined Iranian sovereignty since the 1979 revolution through sanctions,