History, Religion, Politics, Culture, and Travels in the Islamic World
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.
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.
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.
Writing about political and military developments in the Middle East has distracted me from writing about my primary interests: travels, peoples, cultures, religion, and history. A short photo essay about my student days in Damascus in the 2000s when I studied Arabic at Damascus University
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.
Congress passed bills on 20 April 2024 that provide a total of $95 billion in military aid to Israel, Taipei, and Ukraine; lead to a U.S. ban on TikTok; add sanctions on Iran; and steal billions of Russian assets held in the U.S. A dark day for investor confidence in U.S. as a “safe have,” U.S. foreign policy, and U.S. Citizens (who lose liberties and dollars); but an excellent day for the Iran-Russia-China “Tripartite Alliance,” which will retaliate against the U.S. in Asia-Pacific and Middle East.
My thesis on IRGC strategy vis-à-vis Israel, ‘How do Iranians ‘Boil a Frog’? Slowly and methodically,’ published at the Cradle was mentioned (with indignation!) by Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. during the 15 April 2024 U.N. Security Council meeting on Iran’s strike on Israel. Video below.
Following the U.S.-backed Israeli regime’s bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Iranians affiliated with the Islamic Republic have made statements that suggest Tehran’s nuclear weapons policy may have shifted. A 180° shift by Tehran is highly-probable.
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