There is a profound strategic problem with respect to how Washington and Jerusalem deal with Tehran. Iran is no less motivated by Mahdism in its neo-imperialist strategy than the Soviet Union was motivated by Marxism-Leninism in its own imperialist strategy. Yet Washington and Jerusalem in their respective public rhetoric do not give any hint ofContinue reading “On the Need for a Counter-Strategy to Iranian Mahdism”
Category Archives: United States
Who is Behind the Anti-Saudi Lobby?
Intelligence agencies may legally engage in political action in foreign countries as long as they do not break the law. The Israel lobby in the United States is meticulous in not technically acting as foreign agents and thus does not break the law despite acting as the long arm of Tevel, the Political Action andContinue reading “Who is Behind the Anti-Saudi Lobby?”
Biden has to Choose Between Iran and Saudi Arabia
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has had enough, he does not trust the United States in general and President Biden in particular and for good reasons. Three US presidents (Obama, Trump and Biden) have pursued American disengagement from the Middle East. Trump refrained from defending Saudi Arabia when it was attacked by Iran and MBSContinue reading “Biden has to Choose Between Iran and Saudi Arabia”
The Mullahs Fear an Armed Revolt
Why are the ruling mullahs specifically cracking down so hard on Iranian Kurdistan and attacking and threatening to invade Iraqi Kurdistan? Because most Iranians like so many other Middle Easterners maintain assault rifles in their homes and hence the current peaceful feminist revolution in Iran could seamlessly evolve into an armed revolt and where isContinue reading “The Mullahs Fear an Armed Revolt”
The US is to Blame for Failed Mideast Policy
Islamdom is America’s weak spot. George W. Bush tried to democratize Islamdom only to find out that the majority of the electorate in many Muslim nations votes Islamist, meaning that there are no prospects for democratization in many Muslim nations because the majority of the people wants totalitarianism. Yet, Bush’s democratization campaign resulted in theContinue reading “The US is to Blame for Failed Mideast Policy”
Enough Scapegoating MBS for US Policy Failure
It is rather well-known that there is no love lost between President Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. So let’s just try to analyze what led to the latest fallout in this utterly undiplomatic saga. MBS is leading the feminist revolution in Saudi Arabia and now there is another one playing out inContinue reading “Enough Scapegoating MBS for US Policy Failure”
Hezbollah’s Diplomatic Lobby
As the Middle East finds itself on the brink of war the usual suspects in the so-called international community undoubtedly once more line up to pressure the Jewish state. However, Hezbollah has been instructed by Tehran to start a war with Israel for reasons unrelated to Lebanon and so it does not really matter whetherContinue reading “Hezbollah’s Diplomatic Lobby”
Israel Borders Iran
What we are witnessing is truly surreal. It is becoming ever more clear that Lebanon has ceased to exist as an independent nation and is now merely an Iranian protectorate. Iran is currently carrying out two faux negotiation processes with its two archenemies, Israel and the United States, through proxies. The negotiation process with IsraelContinue reading “Israel Borders Iran”
How Iran is Instigating War
Why would Iran want a war in the Levant now? This is an excellent question that requires some elaboration. Iran is moderately convinced that Israel and America are deterred by Iranian weapons of mass destruction and will not dare to destroy the Iranian nuclear weapons program. However, Tehran is less certain when it comes toContinue reading “How Iran is Instigating War”
Biden Needs to Reassess US Mideast Policy
President Biden is continuing his policy of indefinite nuclear talks with Tehran, refusing to activate Plan B until the very last moment, refusing to impose a no-fly zone in support of the emerging Iranian rebellion while failing or refusing to conclude a defense pact with Saudi Arabia. While visiting Jeddah did Biden claim that itContinue reading “Biden Needs to Reassess US Mideast Policy”
Washington Shouldn’t be Surprised
Washington is unpleasantly surprised over OPEC’s production cut and accuses the organization of aligning with Russia. However, President Biden has no reason to be surprised considering his own reckless policy of selling out GCC interests in the Iran nuclear talks. America is not behaving with self-respect let alone with respect for the interests of itsContinue reading “Washington Shouldn’t be Surprised”
The Mediterranean Mirage
Hassan Nasrallah made a televised speech expressing cautious praise for the US proposal for a new border line between the exclusive economic zones of Israel and Lebanon in the Mediterranean sea. However, he notably did not explicitly accept the proposal. It is important to be cognizant that Lebanon or rather “Hezbollahstan” is an Iranian protectorateContinue reading “The Mediterranean Mirage”
Time for Coup de Grâce
There are women-led protests in cities throughout Iran with the people demanding the downfall of the mullahcracy. The regime is rotten to the core with little domestic support and now would be an opportune time to press for regime change. Unfortunately, that is not the policy of the Biden administration despite this being supremely inContinue reading “Time for Coup de Grâce”
The State Department Does not Get It
The State Department has recently made pronouncements on the violence in Samaria, calling on “both sides” to refrain from “provocations” and “return to the peace process”. This is peculiar since the Palestinian Authority is certainly not behind the violence and the parties which are, namely the designated Jihadist terrorist organizations of Hamas and Palestinian IslamicContinue reading “The State Department Does not Get It”
The US and Israel are both Wrong on Iran Diplomacy
Washington still clings to the illusion that Tehran is interested in returning to the JCPOA and would ultimately do so. Jerusalem clings to a similar illusion in believing that it is possible to deter Iran in claiming that if Tehran was presented with a credible military deterrence that would threaten its survival (i.e. a no-flyContinue reading “The US and Israel are both Wrong on Iran Diplomacy”
Iran Plans Major Conventional War
What is the purpose of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons? There is more than one purpose: 1) Iran gains immunity from any future US invasion under any circumstances no matter how maliciously and atrociously Iran acts. 2) Iran can perpetrate acts of biological and chemical terrorism with complete impunity. 3) Iran would have the option ofContinue reading “Iran Plans Major Conventional War”
The Karish Maritime Negotiations Will Fail
Much hope has been pinned on the indirect Israeli-Lebanese negotiations about the demarcation of the maritime border line between the two nations as mediated by US diplomat Amos Hochstein. However, what is often conveniently forgotten is that the Lebanese state is now effectively Hezbollahstan, an Iranian protectorate which takes indirect orders from Tehran through theContinue reading “The Karish Maritime Negotiations Will Fail”
The Two-State Solution is Dead on Arrival
Why is the Palestinian Authority trying to promote UN membership for the non-existent “State of Palestine” despite an assured US veto in the UN Security Council? The apparent purpose is to pressure liberal democracies into recognizing Palestinian statehood with the goal of torpedoeing peace. The PA is quite comfortable with the status quo and itsContinue reading “The Two-State Solution is Dead on Arrival”
What Will Happen After the Destruction of the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Program?
A weekend interview in the Israeli daily Israel Hayom provided an insight into the perspectives of Israeli decision-makers. The interview was with one colonel T; the head of the IDF General Staff Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate. Ostensibly was the interview a sales pitch in order to persuade Israeli elected politicians to engage more in Iran-relatedContinue reading “What Will Happen After the Destruction of the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Program?”
On the Likelihood of Returning to the JCPOA
In the international community there is endless chatter about the presumed “relative likelihood” for the resumption of the JCPOA, according to many officials this “likelihood” varies by the month and the week. But is this really true? The fact is that the US government strongly wants an agreement, albeit not at any price. If TehranContinue reading “On the Likelihood of Returning to the JCPOA”
Fool me Once, Twice, Thrice
The international community, including Israel, refuses to learn from being serially deceived by Iran. It was in the interest of Khomeinist Iran to sign a nuclear agreement in 2015 with the P5+1 but what has changed since then are Elon Musk and Tesla with the rapid development of electric vehicles and with that the definitiveContinue reading “Fool me Once, Twice, Thrice”
When the State Department is Picking on Israel
The Arabists at the State Department have a long history of trying to extract concessions from Jerusalem against Israel’s best interests with the intention of extracting ever more concessions in order to harm and undermine the Jewish state. This goes back all the way to when the US tried to force Israel to withdraw fromContinue reading “When the State Department is Picking on Israel”
The US is Pressuring Lapid Because he is Liberal
The State Department has recently embarked on a ruthless campaign of pressure on Israel in seeking Israeli concessions and the only reason obviously is the perception that Prime Minister Yair Lapid as a centrist is “weak” and therefore amenable to diplomatic extortion. Interestingly, the State Department largely refrained from pressuring former prime minister Naftali BennettContinue reading “The US is Pressuring Lapid Because he is Liberal”
Why the World Lost Interest in the Palestinian Issue
When will Median Jews immigrate to Israel in the tens of millions? This is only a matter of time. What is at stake is whether President Erdogan and the AKP will lose power in Turkey in the June 2023 elections and approximately 20 million Turkish Median Jews will be allowed to leave for Israel. ForContinue reading “Why the World Lost Interest in the Palestinian Issue”
The US Needs a Regime Change Policy on Iran
The US government lives in an illusion fed by the Iranian regime, namely that Iran somehow has an interest in a nuclear agreement with the P5+1. Contrary to US assessments and due to increasing progress in the development of electric vehicles, something which radically shrinks the window of opportunity for oil-based Mahdist neo-imperialism, Iran hasContinue reading “The US Needs a Regime Change Policy on Iran”
A Colossal Intelligence Failure
The Western intelligence community operates on the assumption that Iran is interested in returning to the JCPOA. Yet, no matter how many times this false belief has been discredited by persistent Iranian rejectionism, the Western intelligence community has clung to this patently false belief. If Iran was motivated primarily by economic imperatives then surely notContinue reading “A Colossal Intelligence Failure”
What are Tehran’s Interests Regarding the Karish Maritime Border Dispute?
Israel withdrew from Lebanon in the year 2000 but Tehran was not satisfied and so Iran/Hezbollah instructed the Lebanese government to manufacture the Sheba farm (Har Dov) fictitious border claims on lands in the northern Golan heights. Iran/Hezbollah did it again in 2022 when it instructed the Lebanese government to expand Lebanon’s claims for territorialContinue reading “What are Tehran’s Interests Regarding the Karish Maritime Border Dispute?”
What is the Iranian Game?
Usually, the Iranians and their proxies are playing their cards very carefully but more recently have the Iranians been using some unusual cards. The indirect negotiations with the United States have been brought to the brink with the intention likely being to eventually blame Washington for their ultimate failure. Simultaneously, Tehran’s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah threatenedContinue reading “What is the Iranian Game?”
Does Israel Want War with the Iranian Axis?
The view from Jerusalem regarding Iran’s nuclear intentions is rather befuddled. One day we hear that there is little risk that there will be a return to the JCPOA and the next day we hear that such return is imminent and these “assessments” are unwittingly cyclically repeated and so the master manipulators in Tehran mustContinue reading “Does Israel Want War with the Iranian Axis?”
Jerusalem and Tehran are Different Conceptual Universes
Israel and Iran are both looking forward to establishing a new regional order and neither side fears regional war. Nevertheless, the respective visions of the new regional order look completely different. Both sides envision establishing regional hegemony and removing each other from power. What is the reason for these radically different strategic conceptions? At theContinue reading “Jerusalem and Tehran are Different Conceptual Universes”
The US Needs a Deterrence Strategy Against Iran
There is no question that in the long term China poses the greatest strategic challenge to US interests worldwide, but in the short term, Iran is the greatest threat to the American homeland. The threat of Iran attacking America with biological weapons brought to America’s coastlines with Iranian submarines and deployed after America and IsraelContinue reading “The US Needs a Deterrence Strategy Against Iran”
Iran Poses a Greater Threat to the US than to Israel
America’s adversaries, including Iran, fear Republican administrations but certainly not Democratic administrations. Why is this so? Democratic administrations are more concerned about human rights while Republican administrations are more concerned about realpolitik. The real question is therefore whether the Iranian nuclear weapons program will be destroyed under the current Democratic administration or under the nextContinue reading “Iran Poses a Greater Threat to the US than to Israel”
One Trillion USD in R&D on Sustainable Technologies Would Resolve the Climate Crisis Within Ten Years
Many Western governments are investing massively in subsidies and investments for the introduction of sustainable technologies as seen in the recent package that was narrowly passed by the US Congress. This is severely misguided. A much better use of that money is to invest those huge resources on R&D in sustainable technologies. It is timeContinue reading “One Trillion USD in R&D on Sustainable Technologies Would Resolve the Climate Crisis Within Ten Years”
The Khomeinists are Drunk on Mahdism
International Iran experts are consistently behind the curve in missing how Iran’s current rulers are influenced by Mahdism. What is behind the most recent threats by Hassan Nasrallah against Israel concerning the gas rigs in Israel’s exclusive economic zone? Nasrallah, like other leading Khomeinists, genuinely and strongly believe that the Hezbollah-led Iranian axis has theContinue reading “The Khomeinists are Drunk on Mahdism”
Iran has a Timeline
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has given a television interview in giving us some insight into how the Khomeinist elite currently conceive of messianic time. Khomeinism of course is unique in that it is the only form of Islamism that is apocalyptic. Nasrallah referred to some news reports from the US and Israeli media as indicationsContinue reading “Iran has a Timeline”
The Success of Russian Psychological Warfare
Russia is currently suffering tactical military defeat on the battlefield in Ukraine and is exhausting its military assets. Yet the outcome is still a stalemate and a military deadlock on the battlefield. However, the Russians are prevailing on the strategic level because they are succeeding in their psychological warfare against NATO and the United States.Continue reading “The Success of Russian Psychological Warfare”
Genocide Begins with Words
Genocides are discursive phenomena in the sense that they begin with words and end in bloodshed. The war on Israel has always been about exterminating the Jews although that goal is usually not explicitly spelled out. How is that so? There is a consensus in Palestinian society that the Jews will have to be completelyContinue reading “Genocide Begins with Words”
Israel has Leverage
Russia is now demanding the closure of the Jewish Agency in Russia, apparently as retaliation for Israel’s neutrality on the Ukraine conflict. However, there is something that Ukraine long has obviously been seeking help with from Israel and that is American Jewish organizations lobbying the US government on behalf of Kyiv. While there is noContinue reading “Israel has Leverage”
It’s in Washington’s Interest to Arm Riyadh
Saudi Arabia is the largest destination for US weapons exports with some 25% of all US defense exports going to the KSA. The Biden administration has however limited weapons exports to Riyadh, leaving the Saudis little choice but to purchase Chinese or Russian arms. This is an illogical policy which harms American jobs but furthermoreContinue reading “It’s in Washington’s Interest to Arm Riyadh”
Israel is the Core of the New Regional Alignment
As expected, there was no official statement by the participating statesmen in Jeddah. Some observers claimed that this proved that Biden’s visit was a failure but Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid pointed out that many things had been achieved with Biden’s visit that it will take years until it will become possible to talk publiclyContinue reading “Israel is the Core of the New Regional Alignment”
KSA is Ready for Liberalization but not Democratization
Democratization is highly problematic in the Muslim world due to the popularity of Islamist movements. What is the point of democratizing and holding elections if this leads to Islamist totalitarians coming to power? Yet, democracy has proven possible to varying degrees in some Muslim nations. Saudi Arabia is the most conservative country in the MuslimContinue reading “KSA is Ready for Liberalization but not Democratization”
Nothing Except Military Action Will Stop Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program
There was a disagreement during the meeting in Israel between President Biden and Prime Minister Lapid on the question of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Prime Minister Lapid insisted that only deterrence would persuade Iran to sign a nuclear agreement while President Biden insisted that diplomacy was still the best way forward. Both are wrong sinceContinue reading “Nothing Except Military Action Will Stop Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program”
Undermining the KSA is not a US Interest
Are there currently negotiations underway for a KSA-USA defense pact? There are strong indications that this is indeed the case as this is very strongly in the interest of both nations, not to mention other regional nations. However, negotiations appear to be delayed by US human rights demands. The US needs to be cognizant thatContinue reading “Undermining the KSA is not a US Interest”
A Bipartisan Strategy for Great Power Competition for the Next 50 Years
There is not much disagreement between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party on Russia and China and there won’t be on Iran once the negotiation track is definitely declared dead. What is needed is a threepronged bipartisan global strategy for the next 50 years. Russia, China and Iran each require a unique strategy ofContinue reading “A Bipartisan Strategy for Great Power Competition for the Next 50 Years”
Can Iran’s Apocalyptic Scheme be Thwarted?
If Iran did not believe that Iranian territorial control over the Twelver eschatological region was essential for the success of the planned Khomeinist man-made apocalypse as intended to prompt the reappearance of the Hidden Imam in Mecca, then surely Iran would not be so geostrategically obsessed with taking control over this region where the threeContinue reading “Can Iran’s Apocalyptic Scheme be Thwarted?”
Iran’s Window of Opportunity
Iranian senior officials openly and publicly state that their overarching strategy is to prompt the reappearance of the Hidden Imam in Mecca leading to global Khomeinist theocratic rule. One crucial factor which is closing the window on Iranian eschatological imperialism is however the advent of electric vehicles. The electric vehicle industry has changed much sinceContinue reading “Iran’s Window of Opportunity”
Once Iran Conquers the Gulf States
Iran is bent on taking control over the Twelver eschatological region which includes the cities of Mecca, Jerusalem and Damascus where the Islamic messianic figures of the Mahdi (identified by Twelvers with the Hidden Imam), the Dajjal (the Deceitful Messiah) and Jesus are slated to appear at the conclusion of Islamic history. Control over thisContinue reading “Once Iran Conquers the Gulf States”
The Saudis are No Suckers
The US-Saudi relationship was always based on oil in return for security. There were those Americans who lately mistakenly presumed that the United States no longer needed Saudi Arabia. This is wrong. The US will need the KSA as a staging ground for any military action against Iran after Tehran lashes out against the outsideContinue reading “The Saudis are No Suckers”
The Iranians Know What They Want
After the failed talks in Doha about returning to the JCPOA are American diplomats bitterly complaining that the Iranians are seemingly unable to decide whether to resume or bury the JCPOA. This is a complete and utter misunderstanding of the Iranian position which is to have their cake and eat it too. Iran wants continuedContinue reading “The Iranians Know What They Want”
The Case for a Grand Strategic Bargain Between the KSA and the USA
Everyone wants something in diplomacy and the way to get it is usually through rapprochement and emphasis on common interests. MBS is an unconventional leader with a special mind; as an autistic person I can appreciate that he thinks differently than most other players in the international community and is clearly resented and perhaps evenContinue reading “The Case for a Grand Strategic Bargain Between the KSA and the USA”