Opinion

Fog of War — And the Fog of Politics

“When America goes to war, Alabama bleeds at a higher rate than most States”—Guest Opinion by Ken McFeeters

Guest Contributor

— 3 min read
Fog of War — And the Fog of Politics

Guest Opinion by Ken McFeeters

By now, you’ve heard my opponent, Tommy Tuberville, declare that when it comes to war with Iran, “we really have no choice.”

No choice?

Wars are never as they seem. Military leaders call it the “fog of war” — the uncertainty, confusion, and incomplete information that clouds judgment in battle. Decisions are made with limited intelligence, shifting narratives, and consequences nobody fully understands until it’s too late.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the fog of war often affects politicians even more than infantrymen.

Because politicians don’t fight the wars they vote for.

My opponent says this war would be about “getting rid of corrupt leadership.” That’s a noble-sounding phrase. It polls well. It fits neatly into a soundbite.

But let’s talk about corruption.

When a politician refuses to release proof that he has met the seven-year residency requirement required by the Alabama Constitution to run for governor, what do we call that? When someone behaves as though constitutional requirements don’t apply to them, what is that if not arrogance — the seed of corrupt leadership?

It is easy to speak about removing corruption abroad while dodging constitutional accountability at home.

My opponent also said going to war would be “a very, very tough decision — but to me, we have no choice.”

How tough is it, really?

Alabama serves in the military at one of the highest per-capita rates in the nation. Nearly 8% of our population are veterans. That means when America goes to war, Alabama bleeds at a higher rate than most states.

Our sons.
Our daughters.
Our neighbors.

Will my opponent’s sons serve in this war? Because that would make it a much tougher decision.

History should humble us before we rush into another conflict.

We were told Iraq was about weapons of mass destruction and liberating people from corrupt leadership. We were told Syria was about freedom and stability.

In both cases, we were promised moral clarity.

Instead, we witnessed unintended consequences — or what they called "unintended consequences". 

Ancient Christian communities had existed in Iraq and Syria for nearly 2,000 years — dating back to the first century. They were indigenous, foundational, woven into the history of the region.

After we “liberated” those nations, Iraq’s Christian population dropped by roughly 95%. In Syria, it fell by around 75%.

That isn’t liberation. That’s collapse.

Before we repeat history, shouldn’t we pause? Shouldn’t we examine whether these outcomes were truly unintended? Shouldn’t we question whether the promises match the results?

Or are we expected, once again, to accept “we have no choice”?

And then there is the money.

My opponent is being backed by roughly $20 million to convince the people of Alabama that he is fighting for them.

Twenty million dollars.

So I ask a simple question: When someone receives that kind of financial backing, who exactly are they working for?

The people of Alabama?
Or the people writing the checks?

Finally, my opponent warned that “these idiots… will use a nuclear weapon.”

Strong words.

But name-calling is not strategy. Bluster is not foreign policy. And repeating the mistakes of the last twenty years is not strength.

The fog of war is dangerous.

But the fog of politics — when ambition, money, and rhetoric cloud judgment — may be even more dangerous.

Alabama deserves leaders who treat war as a last resort, not a talking point.

We do have a choice.

And the first choice is whether we send our children into another war without demanding better answers than the ones we’ve been given before.

Ken McFeeters is a Republican candidate for Governor of Alabama. He is a former congressional candidate for Alabama's 6th District and past President of the Mid-Alabama Republican Club.

For more information about Ken McFeeters and his campaign, visit his official social media platforms:

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