Ralph Nader Radio Hour

Targeting Civilians

In this episode of the Ralph Nader Radio Hour, retired Air Force Special Operations Master Sergeant Wes Bryant discusses the U.S. military’s failure to protect civilians, citing the February 2024 Tomahawk strike that killed schoolgirls in Iran as a case of negligent targeting. He critiques the broader U.S. role in the Middle East, arguing that American policies have fostered cycles of violence and contributed to what he calls state terrorism, especially in relation to Israel’s war in Gaza. Bryant also provides grim estimates of civilian casualties in Gaza, suggesting the death toll exceeds 100,000 when indirect effects are considered. The conversation is framed by constitutional scholar Bruce Fine’s argument that only Congress should have the power to declare war.