Iran War Splits Older and Younger Conservatives at CPAC
Recent polling indicates that a significant portion of the American populace has opposed the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign in Iran since its inception. Despite this, many Republicans have continued to support their president as the conflict nears the completion of its fourth week, though signs of change may be emerging.
During this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas, some attendees expressed apprehension regarding the motivations behind the war, the strategies for its resolution, and the overall justification of its associated costs.
"I just wish that there was more transparency on why we're doing what we're doing; that way you could send your loved one overseas and be OK with that," remarked Samantha Cassell, a Dallas resident. "I hope it comes to an end quickly, because with the rising cost of living, such as in oil and gas, prices are only going to keep escalating."
Both Cassell and her friend Joe Bolick, attending CPAC for the first time, articulated their concerns about the conflict.
"I don't see an endgame yet," Bolick stated. "What are we actually trying to achieve? Is it true regime change? What does that look like? Who would replace them? I think we kind of got ourselves stuck."
Originally characterized by a libertarian stance, CPAC has evolved into an assembly predominantly aligned with Make America Great Again supporters. This year’s event, traditionally held near Washington, D.C., took place at a large hotel complex near Dallas.
The environment mirrored past conferences with a spacious main auditorium filled with discussions and presentations over several days. However, the focus on the war in Iran was notably more pronounced, highlighting a generational schism within conservative circles.
Toby Blair, a 19-year-old college student from the University of South Florida, attended CPAC alongside his friend Shashank Yalamanchi, a first-year law student. Both conveyed their doubts about the ongoing military efforts.
"I don't like that it's become America's job to find bad people and get rid of them," Blair explained. "Especially when so many people at home cannot afford basic necessities like groceries and gas."
Yalamanchi added that many younger conservatives had supported Trump for his commitment to avoid foreign entanglements, critiquing interventionist policies.
As discussions regarding the war progress, the Pentagon faces a request for $200 billion in war funding, complicating matters further amid concerns that the conflict may linger.
"We have a lot of issues domestically that we need to address, and when we're spending our time and resources justifying and engaging in a foreign war, we have less time to focus on making changes here at home," he noted.
Conversely, members of the "Trump Tribe of Texas," adorned in matching gold sequined jackets, remained unwavering in their conviction regarding the necessity of addressing the threat posed by Iran.
Michael Manuel-Reaud, sharing insights from his sixth CPAC experience, remarked, "If there's a threat of the United States being attacked with a nuclear bomb, who can say no to that?"
In contrast, some vocal Iranian-Americans at the conference showed their support for the military operation, expressing their sentiments with chants of "Thank you, Trump" while calling for regime change in Iran.
They gathered outside the conference center, waving flags reminiscent of the Shah's era and exhibiting a renewed sense of hope for change in their homeland after enduring decades of oppression.
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