> claimed that the Iran war is the first war that the US is waging without first politically appealing to its public This is only true if you define this to be

> claimed that the Iran war is the first war that the US is waging without first politically appealing to its public This is only true if you define this to be a “war” and don’t define other similar actions to be a “war.” Obama announced the air strikes on Libya in 2011 after they had already begun: https://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/19/libya.us.missiles/ https://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/19/libya.us.missile... > U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed that he had authorized "limited military action in Libya" and that "that action has now begun." He is planning for the U.S. portion of the military action in Libya to last just a few days, according to a senior administration official. You’re correct that U.S. Presidents haven’t sought to persuade the public when the engagement involves air strikes instead of boots on the ground. But that’s been true for a long time.