Iranian community celebrates outside Sahali Mall, Feb. 28 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

TWO & OUT

PETERS: Celebration from Iranian ex-pats speaks louder than our skepticism of Trump

Mar 6, 2026 | 12:30 PM

THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS to be extremely suspicious about the United States military campaign against the Iranian regime.

In order to have faith that this operation will be successful, you must first believe that the U.S. government is capable of successfully carrying out any operation.

The Trump approach to so many issues – foreign relations, immigration, the economy – has inevitably descended into abject failure.

In this case, Trump authorized a bombing campaign without obtaining congressional approval and that appears to be simply at the behest of Israel.

The so-called President of Peace has not articulated a clear objective for going to war, raising the question of if such an objective even exists in the White House.

TWO & OUT

PETERS: Celebration from Iranian ex-pats speaks louder than our skepticism of Trump

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In the days following the launch, Pete Hegseth, who holds the eye-roll-inducing title of Secretary of War, said this was not a regime change war.

More and more, it looks like that’s exactly what it was.

Even before Trump took power, the American record in implementing regime change was spotty at best.

All this is to say there is great cause for skepticism about this entire affair.

That skepticism is quickly tempered, though, when speaking to Iranian ex-pats abroad.

Members of the Iranian community here in Kamloops have been extremely vocal in their support of this operation.

They are the ones who know this land and this regime the best.

They are the ones whose hearts ached the most when they heard their homeland’s regime had slaughtered thousands of peaceful protestors just weeks ago.

They are the ones whose relatives remain in Iran, suffering.

So if regime change is step one of a one-step plan, those of us who are the most skeptical about the Trump government must at least admit the operation has been received the warmest by those for whom it matters most.

They’re willing to accept the chaos that may follow as preferable to the brutal repression that preceded.

That’s worth something – and a lot more than the observations of we, the detached.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.