Israeli Paper’s Startling Proposal: Cancel Indebted Americans’ Loans in Exchange for Fighting Iran

A controversial column published in Israel’s Jerusalem Post has proposed that the US government cancel the debts of indebted young Americans in exchange for their enlistment in a ground war against Iran. The writer argues that airstrikes alone cannot win the war — that occupying or controlling the country would require mobilizing up to 1.5 million US troops.
The proposal comes from AJ Jaff, a former Canadian Armed Forces member, who argues that months of intense US bombing have failed to destroy Iran’s military capability, and that current US troop levels are far too low for a successful ground campaign — the active-duty US military currently numbers around 452,000, while confronting Iran’s 31 provincial commands and robust defense network would require significantly more.
To close that gap, Jaff proposes a debt-forgiveness program rather than a draft. He notes the average American aged 18 to 34 carries $40,000 to $100,000 in student loans, credit card, auto, and personal debt. He argues that if the government offered full debt cancellation and expanded GI Bill benefits in exchange for 24 to 36 months of military service, millions of young people would enlist voluntarily. Total US household debt currently stands at a record $18.8 trillion, with 77% of Americans carrying some form of debt.
The columnist drew comparisons to the WWII-era GI Bill, Vietnam-era college deferments, and post-9/11 cash bonuses and citizenship offers. While acknowledging the idea is “somewhat distasteful” morally, he called it the most effective approach available to the Pentagon and the Trump administration.
The column has drawn fierce condemnation in the US. Experts called the proposal fundamentally flawed and unworkable, while many said Israel wants to fight Iran “to the last American.” US outlet The Blaze called it an attempt to economically exploit indebted young people, while the Mises Institute wrote that the call amounts to feeding American citizens into another war furnace on Israel’s behalf.