The elected majorities of both political parties argue Israel’s genocide of Palestinians must be supported because Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. $175 billion, in just 2.5 years, has been appropriated for war in Ukraine to “defend democracy.” The GOP and the Democrats are united in bringing about a needless cold war with China, again, because of democracy.

The wars I took part in, Afghanistan and Iraq, were waged by the US under banners of freedom and democracy. The hot wars of the Cold War that killed many millions were justified by the need to make the world safe for democracy. 

For generations, US political and military leaders, amplified often by enthusiastic media, have asserted to the American people that the slaughter of millions around the world has been necessary to protect democracy from what is almost always described as historically dangerous forces.

A massive campaign, including the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars, has been spent over nearly a decade on a narrative that Donald Trump is an existential threat to American democracy. Despite statements of shock and declarations that this is not the American way across American media, the only surprise should be that it was only this past weekend that someone acted on the messaging and attempted an assassination.

Wars overseas always come home.