Myth of the Stinger Missile Winning the Soviet-Afghan War

NATO and its media supporters love wunderwaffen—‘wonder weapons’ that were promised by Herr Hitler to the German people even as Berlin crumbled around the Führerbunker. Challengers, Abrams, Leopards, HIMARS, and F-16s have had their turn as the ‘game-changer’ that will see off the Russians. Stingers entered the ‘game-changer’ phase last summer, with media asking, ‘will … Continue reading Myth of the Stinger Missile Winning the Soviet-Afghan War →

IRGC and Shiʿa Militias in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon: ‘Why We Fight’

The essay examines the four stages of developments in the Middle East that gave rise to Shiʿa militias in Lebanon Iraq, and Syria, with support from Iran; and their ultimate goal, as expressed by Sayyid Nasrallah of Hezbollah in his famous ‘T’ hand signal (see image), which indicates that ‘Americans can leave the Mideast vertically, leave horizontally.’

U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq & Syria

What is the endgame for the U.S. in striking ‘Iran-backed’ Shiʿa militias in Iraq and Syria? Some 85 ‘targets’ were struck 2/3 February 2024 (around midnight, Syria/Iraq time). The strikes are a response to the 29 January 2024 drone strike in Area 55—the 55 km2 area in Syria that adjoins Iraq and Jordan. Area 55 … Continue reading U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq & Syria →

Saintly Infrastructures of Medieval Islam: The Shrine at Torbat-e Jam

The importance of Christian monasteries to the socio-economic no less than the religious life of medieval Europe has long been recognized. Far less well-known is the comparable role of Muslim shrine complexes in providing a socio-economic infrastructure for their surrounding communities. This was especially the case in the eastern Islamic lands comprising what is today … Continue reading Saintly Infrastructures of Medieval Islam: The Shrine at Torbat-e Jam →