Even having been in one, Vietnam, I cannot say that I am an expert on war. The only thing I know for sure is that it should, if possible, be avoided at all costs.

War represents a breakdown in diplomacy and civil discourse–the rule of law is forgotten and the rule of war, destruction, takes the fore.

Thus, it was, with a sense of relief, that I was pleased to see the announcement that Iran and the United States had come to some kind of understanding to cease hostilities.

I think it likely, though we will probably never know, that President Trump got talked into the massive attack on Iran by Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu of Israel. Netanyahu has only one mode–attack, attack, attack! So, we did.

That resulted, as should have been expected, with the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. That meant that 20% of the world’s oil-based energy was shut off. That also meant that everything petroleum based–from gasoline, to fertilizer, to the production of textiles–was interrupted and prices went up.

The first wave of the attacks focused on killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the religious and governmental leader of Iran. That attack succeeded, but we soon found out that Iran had enough political and military resilience to resist. We also were not able to protect our allies in the Persian Gulf who, in retaliation by Iran, were attacked. The hoped for “new regime” didn’t happen, and those who took over now seem to resemble the old regime but in new clothing.

I suppose you could argue that killing off enemy political leaders is an understandable war aim. But, then, who will replace them?

It has always been noteworthy to me that despite the horrific fighting in the Pacific against the Japanese in World War II–that the United States never bombed the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Emperor could see the city that he loved burning around him, but the palace itself was never targeted.

President Roosevelt, President Truman, and their chief advisors, realized that it might be beneficial, at war’s end, to have the Emperor involved to help bring the war to an end…and that is the way it worked out.

Let us hope that the new leadership in Iran and the United States can finally bring this current conflict to an end. President Trump said publicly last week at the G-7 Conference in France that he had moved ahead with a ceasefire in Iran without the consent of Prime Minister Netanyahu. As to Netanyahu’s approach in Lebanon he said: “Too many people are being killed, and you don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody, because there are a lot of people in those apartment houses, and they’re not all Hezbollah.”

I believe that President Trump is responsible for starting this war with Iran. His statements change from day to day, but it seems now that he wants to end it…and it should be ended.

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.