Readers respond to Question of the Week:

Was Iran bombing right U.S. strategy?

The bombing was the correct move

I would bet more people are for the bombing than against it. Although it scares me a bit, the retaliation, etc., I think it was a correct move.

Iran was more a threat to Israel than to the U.S. With Israel being our only real ally in the Middle East it does give the U.S. reason to want to help protect them. I believe Iran threatening death to America gave Trump another incentive.

I think the likes of Pakistan and North Korea now see the U.S. has a real ability to protect itself and its allies. Trump was not threatening war. He wants Iran to be without a nuclear bomb because Iran’s leaders are fanatics. Trump wants to protect our country and his hope is that he doesn’t have to take further action.

Yes, I worry about what the Iranian response might be. Americans have to be more diligent and watch for little hints that might suggest terrorist attacks brewing. If something is suspicious, they should say something, and not keep quiet. Iranians might not have the power anymore to pull off large responses, but death or destruction of any kind on our soil would be traumatic. You would think Iran would be more open to curtailing their nuclear ambitions, but if not, they are now much further away from accomplishing it. I don’t know for sure, but for now, I don’t think our president will try to demand a regime change. I think it’s up to Iran to make the decision. They don’t decide who our leaders should be.

— Palma Espinosa, Highland

This move has been long overdue

The U.S. and EU have appeased Iran with bribes several times to stop building nuclear bombs and Iran has continued to work toward building them. Iran with nuclear bombs would be a threat to Israel, a way to intimidate the entire Middle East and ultimately the United States, whom they have preached hate to for years. Trump gave them yet another chance to stop and go to the bargaining table and they said no.

The only response possible was to bomb the facilities out of existence, hopefully force them to the bargaining table and ease the tension in the Middle East. This wasn’t an act of war, it was an act to prevent war.

— Hayden Lening, Claremont