The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas has become the latest stage for a growing crisis of conscience within the conservative movement, as a stark generational divide emerges over President Trump's decision to launch military strikes against Iran. While older conservatives cling to traditional notions of American exceptionalism and interventionism, their younger counterparts are expressing profound disappointment and a sense of betrayal, highlighting the moral and political bankruptcy of endless wars.

Trump, who built his political brand on promises to end foreign entanglements, has conspicuously absented himself from CPAC, opting instead to oversee a war that is rapidly spiraling out of control. His absence speaks volumes about the hollowness of his populist rhetoric and the dangerous consequences of prioritizing short-term political gain over long-term peace and stability.

For younger conservatives, who came of age in the shadow of the Iraq War and its devastating aftermath, Trump's actions represent a betrayal of the principles they thought he stood for. They recognize that military intervention in Iran will only exacerbate regional instability, fuel radicalism, and lead to further loss of innocent lives. These younger voters are starting to see the facade of the MAGA movement, recognizing that it does not serve their interests or values.

Meanwhile, older conservatives continue to parrot tired justifications for military aggression, clinging to the outdated belief that American power can solve complex geopolitical problems. They fail to recognize the human cost of war, the economic devastation it wreaks, and the erosion of civil liberties it entails.

The war in Iran is not only a moral disaster but also a policy failure. It has disrupted global energy supplies, further destabilized the Middle East, and brought the world closer to the brink of a wider conflict. Iran has accused the U.S. of plotting a ground assault while feigning interest in negotiations, underscoring the administration's duplicity and recklessness.

Back in the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is in the midst of the longest partial government shutdown in history, a direct consequence of political gridlock and the administration's obsession with divisive issues like immigration. This shutdown jeopardizes national security, undermines critical social services, and inflicts hardship on countless government employees and their families. It highlights the profound dysfunction of our political system and the urgent need for bold, progressive solutions.