Iran Crisis: U.S. Faces Crisis in Middle East

Jessica Lattanzi ‘23, Staff Reporter

Who’s ready to get drafted? After tensions heightened between the United States and Iran, daily conversations and tweets revolved around the apparently imminent World War III. At Archmere, lunch table conversations included ironically light-hearted jokes about fears of a potential draft and the start of a major World War.

Although nothing to such a degree has actually occurred, conditions can not be considered peaceful between the two countries.

It all started on January 3, 2020, when Iranian General Quasem Soleimani was killed by a U.S. drone attack at Baghdad International Airport in a decision ordered by President Trump. The U.S. Government accused Soleimani of past terrorism and of plans to attack American troops in Iran/Iraq. Soleimani was the second most powerful leader in Iran, next to their President, Hassan Rouhani. Although he was allegedly responsible for the deaths of hundreds, Soleimani was well respected by the Iranain people.

Soleimani’s death provoked previously dormant tensions between the two military powers. Iran did not respond passively. Large protests, chants of “death to America,”and periods of intense mourning for the late general were just a few of the reactions made. The Iranian government warned America against any further attacks and vowed to retaliate. Rudolph Matthee, History Department Chair at the University of Delaware who specializes in Middle East History, strongly believes that Iran will not hesitate to seek revenge. He claims that Soleimani was too highly regarded by the country for attempts at retribution not to be made.

Since the execution, Iran has launched missiles onto a U.S. base in Iraq. Luckily, there were no casualties. And, initially, no injuries were reported either; however, after further investigation, Reuters reports that U.S. officials have diagnosed 109 U.S. troops with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Some American citizens argue that killing Soleimani was the wrong move and that it poked the bear of a potential World War. Others, however, stand with the decisions made by the U.S. government. They claim that America is safer now with Soleimani dead and that a major war is not in the future. Either way, United States government officials have made it clear that the United States will remain safe and protected from harm. For now, Archmere students and others can rest assured that hostile Iranians will not attack our nation.