Senate candidate, retired USAF officer Bengs: Iran conflict goes on as Rounds rubber-stamps another Mideast war

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Lt. Col. (Retired) Brian Bengs marked the end of the third week of the escalating U.S. war in Iran on Sunday, raising alarm over mounting casualties and the growing likelihood of a deeper and more prolonged conflict.

“As we prepare to enter a fourth week of war with Iran, the cost in American lives, life-altering injuries, and billions of taxpayer dollars is mounting — with no clear end in sight,” Bengs said in a release. “We’ve seen this story before: vague objectives, mission creep, and years of conflict with no clear resolution.”

The financial cost, he argued, is also spiraling out of control, with billions already spent and reports that Washington is preparing to spend as much as $200 billion more and send thousands of Marines ashore.

“At a time when families are struggling with rising costs at home, Washington wants to spend another $200 billion overseas,” Bengs said. “That’s money that could be invested here to lower costs and strengthen our communities.”

Bengs called out Sen. Mike Rounds, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a Republican seeking his third term in the Senate, for supporting the escalation.

“As a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, Mike Rounds has a responsibility to ask tough questions and provide real oversight,” Bengs said. “Instead, he’s rubber-stamping yet another war in the Middle East.”

As a 26-year military veteran, Bengs implored Rounds and other career politicians in Washington to put our service members and country first.

“I’ve worn the uniform and know what it means to serve,” Bengs said. “It’s time for leadership that doesn’t casually send Americans into harm’s way and ship our tax dollars overseas.”

Brian Bengs is an enlisted U.S. Navy veteran and retired U.S. Air Force officer.  He has lived and worked all over the U.S. and the world but now calls Aberdeen home.  He previously taught an array of law and policy topics at the U.S. Air Force Academy, International Institute of Humanitarian Law, NATO School Oberammergau, and Northern State University.  Bengs was the 2022 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate and is running as an independent in the 2026 campaign.

Photo: President Trump overseas Iran war operations from Mar-a-Lago, public domain, wikimedia commons

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