Instead of honoring American service members who died in combat, MS NOW used Memorial Day to spotlight alleged wrongdoing by the U.S. military in its conflict with Iran. A retired Air Force officer and MS NOW contributor called for Pentagon accountability, focusing on civilian harm rather than traditional commemoration.
The opinion piece urged the Pentagon to acknowledge mistakes that have reportedly led to Iranian civilian deaths, specifically citing a strike that killed nearly 200 schoolgirls and teachers and damaged medical facilities and schools. It criticized the absence of formal U.S. acknowledgment or apology and called for restoring a previously dismantled Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response program. Estimates of more than 1,700 Iranian civilian casualties were emphasized, while losses suffered by American troops remained largely unaddressed.
The author, a former Air Force lieutenant colonel, is known for her sharp critiques of former President Trump's policies and rhetoric regarding military engagement in Iran. She has warned that Trump's threats to attack civilian infrastructure could amount to war crimes under international and U.S. law. Additionally, she condemned Trump's pardoning of military personnel accused of such crimes, viewing it as harmful to understanding the laws of war.
Her writings have portrayed Trump’s approach as a dangerous militarization of nationalism intended to divide the military and civilian population. She has highlighted the ethical conflicts placed on U.S. officers, forced to choose between obedience and possible war crimes, and branded the U.S. involvement in Iran as lacking constitutional authorization from Congress. This Memorial Day article continues her consistent pattern of critiquing Trump’s military policies rather than focusing on honoring American sacrifice.
Traditional Memorial Day observances center on respect and gratitude for American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. MS NOW’s decision to run this critical analysis on such a solemn day marked a significant departure from these longstanding customs.