Fact Check: "Sanders warns against repeating history of wars based on lies."
What We Know
Senator Bernie Sanders issued a statement on June 22, 2025, in response to President Trump's military strikes against Iran. In this statement, Sanders explicitly warned against the potential for the U.S. to engage in another war based on misleading information, drawing parallels to the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. He stated, "The American people were lied to about Vietnam, with tragic consequences. The American people were lied to about Iraq, with tragic consequences. The American people are being lied to again today" (source-1). He emphasized the need to avoid being "dragged into another Middle East war based on lies" (source-1).
In his statement, Sanders referenced the significant human and financial costs of the Vietnam War, where over 58,000 Americans died, and the Iraq War, which resulted in the deaths of 4,492 American soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, all based on false claims regarding weapons of mass destruction (source-1). He criticized the narrative that led to these wars, stating that they were based on lies that had devastating consequences.
Analysis
The claim that Sanders warned against repeating history regarding wars based on lies is substantiated by his statement. He draws on historical examples that are widely recognized as instances where the U.S. government misled the public to justify military action. The Vietnam War is often cited as a conflict where the government misrepresented the situation to gain public support, particularly through the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Similarly, the Iraq War was justified by claims of weapons of mass destruction, which were later proven false (source-4).
The sources used to support Sanders' claims are credible. His official statement is a primary source, directly reflecting his views and concerns (source-1). Additionally, news articles reporting on his statement corroborate his warnings about the potential for repeating past mistakes in U.S. foreign policy (source-5, source-7).
While some may argue that Sanders' perspective is politically motivated, the historical context he provides is well-documented and widely accepted among historians and political analysts. His warnings resonate with a significant portion of the public who are skeptical of government narratives regarding military interventions.
Conclusion
The claim that "Sanders warns against repeating history of wars based on lies" is True. Sanders' statement clearly articulates his concerns about the potential for the U.S. to engage in another conflict under false pretenses, drawing on historical precedents that are widely recognized and documented. His use of specific examples from the Vietnam and Iraq wars strengthens his argument and highlights the importance of scrutinizing government claims related to military action.
