cross-posted from: https://expressional.social/users/Peter_Link/statuses/117111291491626544
#Photo - Anti-war messages from US service members in Persian Gulf
from Trita Parsi on FB - Aug. 16, 2026
This image was sent to me from the field. These are messages #US servicemen in the #PersianGulf have scribbled on the dust of an aircraft flap.
“Be a good guy and do what Israel tells you to”
“Operation Epstein Fury”
“Peace deal #64 incoming… ALL THIS FOR THE HOLY LAND”[…] I suspect these are new sentiments…
But as one serviceman told me: “What people in the media don’t understand when they compare past conflicts to this one, is this operation has no morale behind it. That makes a world of difference to service members deployed to undesirable locations indefinitely.”
Read that last part again: No morale. Deployed to undesirable locations INDEFINITELY.
My own conclusion: When a #war has no morale behind it, winning means that you simply end it. There is no other “winning” in such an unjust war.
I still like seeing this because it shows that the US troops are having a really bad time. As you say, I’ve only ever seen this sort of thing when they were on the losing side.
This is good to spread among the imperialists to fuel infighting, but presenting it as it was in such a community as this isn’t as good, I think.