History, Religion, Politics, Culture, and Travels in the Islamic World
Essay evaluates the maturing ‘Tripartite Alliance’—Russia, China, Iran—at the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine War, which fused the Alliance. Anger at U.S. and NATO transformed hitherto wary allies into partners. Part 1, background; Part 2, cooperation—with emphasis on Iran-Russia military and intelligence exchanges. How will the Iran-Russia military relationship impact on U.S. and Israel?
Nobody likes a bully; and USA is a loud-mouthed bully. Iranians resent 125+ years of foreign interference in their affairs. Tehran has responded to USA’s ‘maximum pressure’ and ‘bomb Iran’ threats by enhancing Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capacities. IRGC can ‘kill’ US aircraft carriers outside Persian Gulf. Iran is prepared for an ‘inevitable war.’ Washington underestimates Iranian tenacity and military technologies
Note on the term ‘Afghan’ as an ethnonym and ‘Afghanistan’ as a toponym based on pre-modern histories and geographies.
Nishapur has the dubious distinction of being ruined frequently by earthquakes and invaders. It was home to Omar Khayyam and Farid al-Din Attar, and devastated in AH 618/AD 1221 by the Mongol army commanded by Tolui, Chingiz Khan’s son. An overview of the fortifications of Nishapur; and excavation at Shadiyakh palace, HQ of Abdallah b. Tahir, Khurasan’s Abbasid governor
Introduction to a series on fortifications of the Islamic east, and the changing character of war. In this first post, a brief look at the layout of Fort Juwayn, Khurasan (a province split between Iran and Afghanistan), as it stood in 1884
An agreement between Iran and Russia is being finalized. The Kremlin is chafing at U.S. support for Ukraine. Russia is likely to support Iran in a ‘proxy war’ in the Middle East. A Russian think-tank said, for payback, Russia may support a ‘hybrid war far from its own borders.’
Withdrawal of HMS Diamond from Red Sea is probably because it ran out of ‘ammo’ (surface to air missiles used to down Houthi missiles) and has to be re-armed. Essay examines what this means for Ansarallah's blockade and military strategy.
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
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.’
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
Perspectives 
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