After three days of strikes by the United States and Israel, Kootenai County residents had a lot to say concerning American involvement and the assassination of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

President Donald Trump said that American strikes would likely take several weeks. Oil prices rose Monday, and U.S. stocks swung between significant losses and a small gain, according to the Associated Press.  

Rathdrum resident Laura Seely Milks shared that there was a missing step in moving forward with the military strikes.  

“I think everyone can agree that the Ayatollah needed to be gone, but the president of the United States owes it to the people of the United States to get Congressional approval for these things," Milks said. "He was on TV a night or two before and could have let the American people know instead of announcing national affairs on social media."  

Damon Darakjy, of Coeur d'Alene, believes the strikes were “justified and valid.” 

“It was the right timing to go after them because the regime was in dire shape,” Darakjy said. “Also, this is justified too because of the thousands of service members that we have lost due to Iranian explosively formed penetrators (EFPs).” 

Some like Yale Barton, of Post Falls, felt conflicting feelings based on personal experience on the front lines.

Barton served in Iraq during the global war on terror and said he finds himself torn when it comes to the strikes. He lost friends due to Iranian involvement in the Iraq War and was shot at by Iranian aligned militia groups.   

“I understand my friends would be alive if we weren’t there to begin with. The United States (and the U.K.) set the conditions for this current conflict when the Iranian government was overthrown in 1953," Barton said. "We created the enemy we now fight. What is currently happening is absolutely someone else’s war. Iran does not pose a threat to the average American stateside.”  

Barton feels for his military brothers and sisters and doesn’t want them to be in harm’s way.  

“I do not remotely support what is currently on going, but I pray for a swift end and resolution,” Barton said.  

Coeur d'Alene resident Yuri Morozov called American involvement “long overdue,” but was less confident about a longer-term involvement of U.S. troops. 

"I am not sure about American boots on the ground, and don’t think Trump will do it, either,” Morozov said. 

The importance of considering serious ramifications that may arise due to the involvement in Iran is something Coeur d’Alene resident Tonya Coppedge said is needed, now more than ever.  

“Military action in the Middle East carries consequences that rarely stay contained. The possibility of escalating involvement, particularly the idea of sending U.S. troops into Iran, should give every American pause,” Coppedge said. “War is not branding. It is not messaging. It is not a posture. It is American lives, destabilized regions and long-term global consequences.” 

If the conflict escalates to the point that the lives of troops are on the line, Coppedge asks that leaders will deeply consider what the defined objective of this action is and what the exit strategy would be before proceeding.  

“Those are not partisan questions, they are constitutional ones,” Coppedge said.  

She also noted that words and actions matter and that military action does not maintain an image of peace. 

“Before we move further down a path that history shows is difficult to reverse, we should demand clarity, accountability and honest debate,” Coppedge said. 

Darren Thiesen, of Coeur d’Alene, said he weighed the well-being of the Iranian people with “putting America’s sons and daughters in harm's way.” 

“The people of Iran have suffered under this regime and the Ayatollah got what he deserved. There are good people there and Iran is a country full of rich beautiful culture that should be unlocked,” Thiesen said. “However, we have engaged in the nation building activities time and time again, and the results are rarely desirable.” 

Thiesen added that that political remarks against globalization seemed at odds when meddling in the business of other sovereign nations.

“How many years were we in Afghanistan? How did Vietnam turn out?” Thiesen asked. 

Coeur d’Alene's Grace Stamsos said change was needed in Iran, but worried about long-term consequences of U.S. involvement. 

“I think we can all also likely agree that regime change without an acceptable replacement in place or a democratic process in the works is a recipe for regional instability and possible global conflict,” Stamsos said. 

She also urged caution before overcommitting America. 

“I do not think this will end well and will result in another civil war with millions of lives lost, including those of American soldiers,” Stamsos said. “And we can all agree, that is not a desirable outcome.” 

    Grace Stamsos
  

    Damon Darakjy
  

    Yuri Morozov