Letter to the editor: You're paying for Rouzer's war

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 09.03.26

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody Analytics, calculated that Trump’s Iran War has already cost American households $1,100 in increased gas prices, interest rates and military expenditures. It’s cost NC families more, Zandi said, because people living in southeastern states drive longer distances. Lower income families are hardest hit. With no end to the war in sight, your costs just keep piling up.

Trump pulled the trigger — but Republican enablers like Rep. David Rouzer loaded the gun and keep feeding him ammunition.

Rouzer wanted this war for years. In 2024, President Biden led a multi-national coalition response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping with missile strikes against 60 targets. That didn’t satisfy Rouzer, who said “firing off a missile here or there” wouldn’t do. Rouzer wanted to attack Iran — “I think it needs to be substantial in a way that Iran really feels it.”

In 2025, Trump followed Israel’s lead, bombed Iran, blowing up negotiations. Rouzer “commended” him, “regardless of any Iranian response which may occur.” Easy for him to say.

In 2026, Trump caved to Israeli urging and again blew up negotiations and attacked Iran. Rouzer said, “I am grateful” because, he claimed, “Iran’s growing nuclear capabilities present an imminent and dire threat.”

That was a lie. National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent resigned, saying, “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation ... we started this war due to pressure from Israel.”

Trump’s Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified that the 2025 bombings “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, adding, “There have been no efforts since then to rebuild their enrichment capability.” On April 8, Trump admitted “Nothing has been touched” since the 2025 bombings.

On June 3, Rouzer voted against a bipartisan War Powers resolution that could have ended the Iran War, which he claims has been “99%” successful.

Rouzer owns this war — but he’s making you pay for it.

Kristine Garrity

Calabash