It should be obvious that the regime of the Ayatollahs is nothing but a theocratically inclined group of thugs prepared to hold the world hostage to reach their goal. And they have never been shy about explaining what that goal is.
Politically, it’s the destruction of Israel, the forcing out of the U.S. from the region and the imposition of Iranian hegemonic control over an essential node of the world’s oil production.
Theologically, it’s about creating the chaos and violence that will speed the return of the Mahdi to return, destroy the infidels and see to Islam’s triumph. In fact, a week or so ago, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani openly prayed at a mosque for the Mahdi to unsheathe his sword to that end.
Yet, perhaps because the war is led by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the chattering classes revert to the usual posture that the war aims can be achieved diplomatically because the war is not progressing like a video game on a timer.
It would be a neat parody were the stakes for the West not so high. It’s not only a malevolent Shi’a Twelver dictatorship that needs to go but a mode of thinking that has pervaded a self-satisfied elite in a West looking for an utopia rather than facing the world as it is.
Iran is gigantic - it’s the size of Alaska. And people don’t understand how tough it is to amass the intelligence and be able to reach and destroy a far flung entrenched military infrastructure, facilities, missile warehousing, mobile missile launchers scattered over such a vast area, and just how astounding the job the US and Israel have done in such a short time given the country’s vastness.
It should be obvious that the regime of the Ayatollahs is nothing but a theocratically inclined group of thugs prepared to hold the world hostage to reach their goal. And they have never been shy about explaining what that goal is.
Politically, it’s the destruction of Israel, the forcing out of the U.S. from the region and the imposition of Iranian hegemonic control over an essential node of the world’s oil production.
Theologically, it’s about creating the chaos and violence that will speed the return of the Mahdi to return, destroy the infidels and see to Islam’s triumph. In fact, a week or so ago, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani openly prayed at a mosque for the Mahdi to unsheathe his sword to that end.
Yet, perhaps because the war is led by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the chattering classes revert to the usual posture that the war aims can be achieved diplomatically because the war is not progressing like a video game on a timer.
It would be a neat parody were the stakes for the West not so high. It’s not only a malevolent Shi’a Twelver dictatorship that needs to go but a mode of thinking that has pervaded a self-satisfied elite in a West looking for an utopia rather than facing the world as it is.
Iran is gigantic - it’s the size of Alaska. And people don’t understand how tough it is to amass the intelligence and be able to reach and destroy a far flung entrenched military infrastructure, facilities, missile warehousing, mobile missile launchers scattered over such a vast area, and just how astounding the job the US and Israel have done in such a short time given the country’s vastness.
We are in Cold War II, and the Allies will win again if we have sumud.