What role would Alabama play if the United States got involved with Israel and Iran?

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – Retired Air Force Colonel Scott Grant says that although the conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating, President Donald Trump’s announcement Thursday that the U.S. would wait two weeks before making a decision on involvement should be comforting to Americans.

“Everybody take a deep breath, ok? We don’t have to get to a decision tonight,” Grant said.

But what would involvement in this conflict look like for Alabamians? Col. Grant describes Alabama as a military rich state.

“Whether it be Army, Air Force, Air National Guard, Army National Guard, you name it, anything going on around the world, Alabamians are involved in,” Grant said. “Oftentimes, we get caught up into this entire battalion, entire wing is going. Nowadays, especially with my experience with the Air National Guard, everybody does a little bit so that everybody doesn’t have to do a lot.”

At this point, the United States is not involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran. President Trump said he’s holding off on making a decision on striking Iran to see if a diplomatic solution is possible.

“I think that’s brilliant to be able to say, ‘I don’t always have to pull the trigger and hit the easy button.’ This is not an easy button by any stretch of the imagination,” said Grant.

Some people are concerned the rising tensions in the middle east could develop into World War III. Grant argues that nuclear weapons being on the table, which were not around during the last two world wars, is a deterrent in and of itself.

“A nuclear weapon that’s working effectively is one that’s not used,” he said. “When you have actors that are nuclear equipped, you always have off ramps. You give your adversary an off ramp, you have off ramps, it’s well calculated to do that. You don’t start pulling the trigger very quickly because you get into a state that is just not survivable.”

Grant stresses that people should not worry about an impending conflict and live their lives like normal.