History, Religion, Politics, Culture, and Travels in the Islamic World
Friday, 31 May 2024, Ansarallah claimed two direct hits on USS Eisenhower, which was in the Red Sea protecting Israel’s economic lifelines with American lives. Since Friday, Eisenhower and its captain have acted in ways that suggest there is truth to the Yemeni claim. Families of Ike's crew claim they have been unable to communicate with relatives on-board, suggesting a security clampdown is in effect.
Zayn al-Din Taybadi (d. 791/1389) is a captivating mystic of Mongol Iran. He was an irascible man, remembered by historians for his rudeness to Tamerlane (Temür; d. 807/1405). He in effect told Tamerlane (as New Yorkers like to say), to “take a long walk on a short pier.” This is the story.
My analysis of Ayatollah Khamenei’s 29 May 2024 letter to US students was just published by PressTV. The essay is, “Ayatollah Khamenei’s letter to US students shaped by insightful reading of history, politics.” I concur with his assessment that “As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it.” Americans students, especially students at my alma mater, Columbia University, will be squarely on the right side of history, just as they were with the Vietnam War protests in the 1960s and anti-apartheid protests in the 1980s.
Another U.S./NATO Wunderwaffe bites the dust. HIMARS (“High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems”) batteries were shipped by the U.S. to Ukraine with much fanfare in June 2022. By May 2024, it was clear even to the propagandists at the Washington Post and Daily Telegraph that HIMARS was “completely ineffective.” What makes HIMARS utterly useless?
Following threats from Israeli and American officials, like “Iraq is just one campaign… Next, we’re going to have the Iranian campaign,” IRGC began developing a large and diverse array of ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles. IRGC is ready (as Israel discovered). Iran has created a 2,000 km radius ring of fire around Iran; an anti-access zone in which enemy ships and bases can be destroyed by IRGC's missiles.
Physicists have demonstrated scientifically that anti-ballistic missile (ABM) umbrellas have inherent weaknesses that render them largely ineffective. Critics have proffered scientific evidence, including documented failures of Patriot missile defenses in the First Persian Gulf War, to support findings. Rather than address critics, Washington officialdom has persecuted them. Vast profits are available to manufacturers of ABM systems; hence the silencing of scientists. Iran and Russia are aware of ABM weaknesses, which is why they have invested extensively in penetrating ABM through electronic warfare, drones, cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic missiles. An overview of why ABM systems, and anti-rocket systems like Iron Dome, usually fail.
Patriot air defense systems are done. So much for the 99% interception rate myth.
Christian Bleuer has been maintaining the massive “Afghanistan Analyst Bibliography” since 2004. Bleuer just published the final edition (29 April 2024), accompanied by an essay titled, “The State of Research on Afghanistan: Too many poor quality publications and some real gems.” Links included at post.
China, Russia, and Iran, a coalition of countries targeted by the collective west, know they have a common enemy and are cooperating militarily, politically, and economically to neutralize it. Recent meetings of Iranian, Russia, and Chinese defense ministers in Astana (Kazakhstan); and China’s reaction to threats by Antony Blinken, are addressed.
44th anniversary of the 24-25 April 1980 failed attempt by US Special Forces to rescue hostages held at the US Embassy in Tehran. Video and photo essay with links to informed analyses.
Perspectives 
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