The right is at it again. Invading Iraq and the extreme consequences that war created (massive debt, US and Iraqi deaths, loss of American status, disarray in Iraq, development of ISIS, and more) should be a pretty good reminder of why we should do everything possible to avoid war. But, the right loves war. They love the defense industry, they think war is patriotic, and they love to fight nations that don’t adhere to their right wing Christian ideals. They also thrive on fear. Making the American public fear some unseen enemy is what keeps them in business.

So John Boehner invited Israeli PM Netanyahu to address Congress and make a case for war. Oh sure, no one on the right is saying it outright, but it is the way they do things. As Obama and the rest of the world try to find a way to peacefully stop Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons, the right wants to scuttle the deal. They want to demand things that everyone knows Iran will never agree to. And then, they can claim we’ve exhausted all options and war is the only way. Just like in Iraq!

It should not come as a surprise. It is the same approach they take toward fighting Obama and the Democrats. They won’t compromise. They won’t meet part of the way. Everything has to be 100% their way, or it just won’t be acceptable. Anything but 100% adherence with right wing ideology will result in the destruction of America. Fear it!

There is another reason the right takes this approach. They don’t like history (or science). They refuse to admit any of America’s mistakes. Because in their minds, doing so would make us a weak apologist nation. But according to them, America is THE exceptional national. So exceptional that we’ve not made mistakes. They’ve refused to admit that Iraq was a mistake or that ISIS was formed precisely because we created an environment in Iraq that allowed ISIS to form and get strong. Doing so would make us weak. We must be strong. We must attack. We must bully our way across the world. Because anything else is weak. Because anything else will result in the end of America.

Some on the right are comparing Obama to British PM Neville Chamberlain and comparing Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to British PM Winston Churchill. The only problem with that is there are virtually no appropriate comparisons. Obama is not suggesting we appease Iran. The Obama administration fought for and got stiff international sanctions that have crippled Iran. That is what caused them to elect a more moderate leader and that is what brought them to the negotiating table.

Netanyahu is more like Donald Rumsfeld insisting we invade Iraq and Obama is more like Senator Ted Kennedy insisting there are other alternatives.

Let’s not repeat our mistakes. Give peace a chance!