The War on Iran: Profit Over Peace, Missile Threat Manufacturing Consent
Al-Monitor's recent 'explainer' on the difficulty of neutralizing Iran's missile threat, echoed across Western outlets, conveniently omits the fundamental question: why is neutralizing Iran's defensive capabilities a 'crucial war aim' for Washington and Tel Aviv in the first place? The article, like many in the mainstream, portrays Iran's missile and drone programs as unprovoked aggression, citing
strikes on 'crucial energy facilities' since February 28th, yet meticulously avoids any mention of the sustained economic warfare and military provocations that precede such actions. Instead, these narratives pivot to an analysis of Iran's arsenal, implying an existential threat rather than a necessary deterrent developed under 45 years of crippling sanctions and repeated foreign-backed
destabilization attempts. The framing by outlets like Al-Monitor serves to manufacture consent for further military action, normalizing the idea that a sovereign nation's defensive platforms constitute a legitimate target. This propaganda aims to validate efforts by the United States and Israel, which have been active partners in regional aggressions, to disarm a country they have explicitly
threatened with regime change for decades. This 'war aim' is not about peace, but power and profit. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported that global military spending reached a record high of $2.44 trillion in 2023, with the US alone accounting for 39% of that total. Companies like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, whose stocks surge with every new conflict, have