So, Iran claims the attack on ships crossing the Strait was “a mistake”? Color me skeptical. Mainstream outlets like CNN and MSNBC seem to be lapping this up, framing it as a form of diplomatic backtracking. They’re all too happy to put a positive spin on what should be a glaring warning sign—that Iran is willing to escalate tensions yet again. Meanwhile, Fox News does its usual two-step, critiquing the Biden administration’s response while simultaneously filling airtime with anecdotes. They’re all playing the blame game instead of focusing on the core issue: accountability.

This isn’t just a “who’s at fault” game; it’s a matter of national security. We might as well roll out the welcome mat for further aggression if these powers can simply brush off military actions with a shrug and the line, “Oops, our bad.” It shows a dangerous lack of seriousness about international conduct and the responsibilities that come with power. But hey, who needs a principled stand when you can just spin a narrative?

Both sides of the aisle need to wake up! The American public deserves better than the glossed-over version of events that these outlets shove down our throats. The questions we should be asking are never spoken: What’s the long-term strategy here? Are we just going to sit back and let Iran dictate the terms of engagement? Or will we finally demand accountability, both from our media and our government?