As I write this on Sunday, March 8, 2026 the US is at war with Iran. There has been much propaganda leading up to the joint US/Israeli attack. One, that Iran is a threat to world peace through its nuclear program that aims to produce a nuclear weapon. Iran has denied that its nuclear program has such an aim. Nevertheless it ended compliance with The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitoring program in June of 2025. Two, and less clearly stated, is that Iran is an integral part of the growing BRICS group of nations that wishes to break away from the dollar-centric world trading system. Led by China and supported by Russia—the “C” and the “R” in BRICS—these nations are dissatisfied with the US’s use of the dollar to punish nations financially. Sanctions range from outright confiscation of assets—i.e., Russian–to suspending access to the American run SWIFT trade settlement messaging system. Other dissatisfactions are the US’s meddling in the internal affairs of smaller nations even to the point of regime change. Additionally, these countries are dissatisfied that their dollar holdings are losing purchasing power at an ever greater rate. The BRICS community has, so far, promised to invest but not to meddle in its members’ affairs. China is building gold vaults outside its borders, which makes it appear that trade among members will be settled in gold or a gold-backed yuan.
Although many nations have nuclear weapons, including North Korea, the US has decided that Iran must not be allowed to join the club. And it must not be allowed to control Middle Eastern oil to support the growing Chinese economy, which is a direct threat to American security and prosperity.
Or is it?
An Alternative—Free Market Capitalism
All any government needs to ensure its citizens’ freedom and prosperity is to adopt free market capitalism and a non-interventionist foreign policy. It does not need to intervene in the internal affairs of other nations, no matter how loathsome these may be, and it does not need to control and thereby deny them the opportunity to grow, either militarily or financially. Since these are the main justifications for going to war with Iran, the US could safely withdraw from the region. Furthermore, it could withdraw its bases all around the world without making either itself or its friends unsecure, as long as they also end foreign interventions and adopt free market capitalism.
Free market capitalism recognizes the primacy of free individuals to decide for themselves where and how much to invest. It does not need government to ensure that markets will be open. Neither Individuals nor governments can ensure access to foreign markets, but with a non-interventionist foreign policy there is no reason that any nation would deny its own citizens the opportunity to enrich themselves through trade. If they do, other nations’ citizens will benefit. In short, there will always be markets somewhere for buying and selling. And private individuals are much better than any government for deciding what and where to trade.
Recognizing this approach will require a major change in America. But what looks to be an imminent loss in the Iranian war (you heard it here first) presents a golden opportunity for Americans rethink the purpose of government. Continue with the same losing formula of excessive military spending justified by an interventionist foreign policy or free market capitalism that is based on mutual respect and noninterference in the affairs of others? The answer should be easy.
© Patrick Barron 2026 Website
