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In this mailing:
* Nils A. Haug: Israelis: The Heroes of Our Time
* John Richardson: Release the Hostages
* Amir Taheri: Iran: The Turban and the Military Cap


** Israelis: The Heroes of Our Time ([link removed])
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by Nils A. Haug • June 2, 2024 at 5:00 am
* The people of Israel are peace-loving. They do not eagerly seek to join battles, they do not desire to destroy and kill. Even so, they once again find themselves forced to defend their homeland, their faith, and their right to live in peace. Perturbingly, they are besieged by those who deny their right to exist. Terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and ISIS, in contrast, appear to be driven by aggression, at times even a lust for violence ([link removed]) , believed by many to be divinely sanctioned ([link removed]) .
* At this time, however, Israelis seem to be alone in their task, and continually faced with obstacles their so-called allies place in the way of swift victory.
* Apart from constantly negotiating the complex and vacillating policies of the current US administration, Israel's efforts to fight on behalf of Western values are being seriously hampered by possibly well-meaning but naive politicians such as the leaders of Ireland, Norway, China and Spain, all of which last month recognized Palestinian State with no borders and governed by genocidal terrorists ([link removed])
* Is Spain really ready to recognize an independent state of Catlonia?
* Ireland, even at the height of its "Troubles" never suggested ridding its neighbour of the Scots, the British and the Welsh, and replacing them with Irish Catholics. Since October 7, racism in Ireland since has reportedly become exponentially worse.
* Is China really about to officially recognize the independence of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet or the Uyghurs?
* The defenders of Israel are courageously overcoming challenges to their nation, their land and their faith. Israel is the only country in that part of the world embodying the institutions of democracy, individual freedom and human rights. Israel, like Ukraine and Taiwan, is worth fighting for. The citizens of Israel are sacrificing their lives so that we will not have to. The least we can do is get out of the way and be of help. They are heroes. They deserve our gratitude and support.

The people of Israel are peace-loving. They do not eagerly seek to join battles, they do not desire to destroy and kill. Even so, they once again find themselves forced to defend their homeland, their faith, and their right to live in peace. Pictured: Israeli soldiers inspect the damage to a synagogue in Dovev after it was hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon on May 27, 2024. (Photo by Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images)

At this time of war in northern Europe and the Middle East, with global escalation looming once again, it is heartening to recall the brave spirit of those who fought for our country and confronted malevolent actors aiming to overwhelm the values of individual freedom in West and the extravagance of peace.

The current era seems typified more by narcissism and relativistic moral-ethics than by courage or protecting the nation. It is a period in which many members of society seek a superficial identity through ethnic or political promotors while disparaging bigger issues of patriotism and the obligation to protect the nation. Many ideologues belittle the traditional concept of a family where one can thrive; for some, even home is no longer regarded as a fundamental necessity.

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** Release the Hostages ([link removed])
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by John Richardson • June 2, 2024 at 4:30 am
(Image source: Hamas)

In the nearly eight months since Hamas, backed by Iran, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been some controversy, out of respect for the feelings of the victims' families, about whether or not to publish images of the atrocities committed that day.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, after the liberation of Europe's concentration camps in 1945, was quoted as saying:

"You saw only one camp yesterday. There are many others. Your responsibilities, I believe, extend into a great field, and informing the people at home of things like these atrocities is one of them... Nothing is covered up. We have nothing to conceal. The barbarous treatment these people received in the German concentration camps is almost unbelievable. I want you to see for yourself and be spokesmen for the United States."

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** Iran: The Turban and the Military Cap ([link removed])
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by Amir Taheri • June 2, 2024 at 4:00 am
* More importantly, Raisi, hailing from the second generation of Islamic revolutionaries, assumed his lack of charisma almost with pride and missed no opportunity to pay homage to the "Supreme Guide" as a gift to mankind.
* [T]he "Supreme Guide" may wish to go for a turban rather than a military cap.
* To make this look like a regular election, Khamenei needs the participation of the so-called "reformist" faction. However, prominent members of the faction may prefer to wait for a better occasion, presumably after Khamenei has entered history.
* The most likely scenario is to field four candidates, a mullah, a military officer, a technocrat, and a "reformist," in the hope of attracting at least half of those eligible to vote to go to the polls. The election that propelled Raisi into the presidency failed to do that. In fact, Raisi ended up elected by just over 35 percent of those eligible to vote.

Pictured: Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili registers his candidacy at the interior ministry in Tehran, May 30, 2024. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

While conspiracy theorists offer endless versions of the theory that Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi's sudden death in a helicopter crash was planned by Tehran's "deep state," a more realistic approach might show that it has, in fact, created a problem that may not be so easy to solve.

From "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenei's view, Raisi, as we noted in another column, was the ideal choice. He was the only president of the Islamic Republic to have led the judiciary, one of three pillars of the state. He had also been a member of the Assembly of Experts, which has the task of choosing a successor to the "Supreme Guide". Raisi was also a cleric, but not too highly placed in the religious hierarchy to put the "Supreme Guide" in the shade.

More importantly, Raisi, hailing from the second generation of Islamic revolutionaries, assumed his lack of charisma almost with pride and missed no opportunity to pay homage to the "Supreme Guide" as a gift to mankind.

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