Economist and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman warned that President Donald Trump's serious threat that "a whole civilization will die tonight" in his latest escalation of the Iran war would lead to lasting damage for the United States.
In his Substack on Tuesday, Krugman suggested "the civilization we destroy may be our own" and that Trump had made a major admission with his comments. He called it America's "darkest hour" yet.
"Not going to be a problem if we ever do get the war crimes trial that all of this deserves. A statement of motive, intent is completely clear," Krugman wrote, describing how Trump's words could be used to prosecute him in the future if he does what he has threatened to do.
He also argued that Trump administration officials and military service members should be ready to make a decision.
"First of all, any military commander given orders to start destroying civilian infrastructure in Iran should disobey that order, should say it, should not even quietly resign," Krugman wrote. "This is a time to stand up and make it clear that this is totally unacceptable. This is a violation of everything that the military stands for. It’s a violation of everything that America stands for."
"Second, any member of the Trump administration: to continue in your position doing your job as Trump takes America on the course of becoming a criminal nation, a criminal terrorist nation, you cannot continue in good conscience," he added.
Krugman suggested that Trump's ultimatum has left only questions.
"Damned if I know what’s going to happen," Krugman wrote. "I mean, at some level, I think that the civilization that may be destroyed tonight is our own. I mean, are we civilized if we do this kind of thing? If America as a nation doesn’t stand up against this, what are we?"
"So, God help us. Normal life will continue. It’s going to be a really weird thing to be out there, you know, grocery shopping and taking the subway and all of those things. But this is, in a way, the defining moment. The fate of the whole American idea is on the line. I have no idea how this ends."