Statement from the Peace Economy Project: Honoring Peace, Not War

The Peace Economy Project respects the dedication and personal sacrifices of service members and their families. However, we cannot support efforts to glorify military operations that deepen cycles of violence or promote “peace through strength” as a substitute for genuine diplomacy.

Senator Eric Schmitt’s recent resolution honoring Missourians involved in Operation Midnight Hammer—a large-scale airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities—frames the attack as an act of courage in the pursuit of peace. We disagree. True peace does not emerge from preemptive strikes, coercive power, or unilateral shows of force. It is built through cooperation, dialogue, and the redirection of our nation’s vast resources toward human needs rather than destruction.

The mission celebrated in this resolution risked escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions, putting countless civilian lives at stake and further entrenching the global arms race. By equating military might with moral strength, we lose sight of the compassion, accountability, and diplomacy that should define American leadership.

Missourians have long embodied resilience, ingenuity, and service—but those qualities are needed most here at home. We urge our leaders to honor Missourians not for their participation in foreign strikes, but for the ways they build peace in our communities: teaching, healing, volunteering, and working toward justice.

It is time to honor peace—not war.

— Peace Economy Project