I do too, but I am happy that the responses here are better thought out and framed than some other substacks, and the disagreements seem to always be reasonable and civil. Personally I am happier with quality than with quantity. ;D
Was a long time ago. Can’t recall the source or the precise phrasing of a comment that stuck w me and sadly continues to resonate. Was an observation of the self proclaimed peace activists.
They’re not peace activists. They’ve taken a side. It’s the other one.
Radical is an interesting word with different ways to define it. I enjoy the more romantic definition of bucking the corrupt the entrenched the coerced the naked emperor but there’s the darker flip side. Cuts both ways.
What happened at universities is they reached a critical mass of conformity of zombie radicalism more cultish than intellectual.
This happened because arguably the most radical experiment in human history centered around individual freedom and rule of law and property rights for the masses proceeds forward while also grinding to a halt from a critical mass of people large majority of whom are clear beneficiaries but ignorant of what came before ignorant of worlds they glamorize and longing for experiments shallowly and impossibly packaged that have already failed. Along with a blacker minority which includes aspiring fascists and fools who should be careful what they wish for.
The "useful idiot" Lefties truly are idiots. They will be murdered by the Islamists, just like they were in Iran, after the West is defeated and "superior" Islam rules.
I'm not a historian, but I've read a fair amount concerning Iran. I was a young man when the Shah was deposed. We were all scratching out heads, wondering what it was about.
Earlier in the 2000s, I knew an ex-Iranian who had fled the terror of the 1979 revolution. Pretty nearly his entire family had simply disappeared. He never did know who all the players were in the revolution, and who was backing them.
This piece is the most concise, understandable explanation of Iran's history that I have read. That anyone can support this regime at all confounds me. And scares the hell out of me.
In my limited understanding, the ascent of the current regime and Iran becoming a major regional player with nuclear capabilities are both consequences of US interventions, even if unintended; if this is indeed the case, it's baffling that American "human rights" fans aren't strongly urging their country to clean the mess it's made. It all falls into place though if you accept that the party line's been fed to them by the hopefully dying regime.
Masterful, my friend. Poignant. Rationally compelling. Morally unyielding.
I had a friend in college from Iran (Isfahan), who celebrated the dethroning of the Shah with joy. Though a history major, I was not familiar with the 20th century history of the country. I accepted his explanation of the corruption of the Shah's regime and brutality of the secret police at face value. But I will never forget the fear in his eyes when he learned who had assumed power. I have never seen that haunting look before or since. I pray that the people of Iran are delivered from this nightmare, throw off the shackles of fear and repression, and that this evil is not replaced by one as bad or worse.
My admiration for your writing is only exceeded by my appreciation for your clarity of thought. Even in the instances when I disagree with you, I am richer for having heard your thoughts. (And on occasion have felt the unpleasant necessity of admitting I was wrong.)
Again, I am fortunate to be able to subscribe and help support your work.
Not good weather for firing up the wood burning samovar, but I hope some day you will be in the area and join me for tea.
I'm really not sure why this substack doesn't have 100x the engagement that it does.
I do too, but I am happy that the responses here are better thought out and framed than some other substacks, and the disagreements seem to always be reasonable and civil. Personally I am happier with quality than with quantity. ;D
Agreed. DJV is very worth watching.
Was a long time ago. Can’t recall the source or the precise phrasing of a comment that stuck w me and sadly continues to resonate. Was an observation of the self proclaimed peace activists.
They’re not peace activists. They’ve taken a side. It’s the other one.
Radical is an interesting word with different ways to define it. I enjoy the more romantic definition of bucking the corrupt the entrenched the coerced the naked emperor but there’s the darker flip side. Cuts both ways.
What happened at universities is they reached a critical mass of conformity of zombie radicalism more cultish than intellectual.
This happened because arguably the most radical experiment in human history centered around individual freedom and rule of law and property rights for the masses proceeds forward while also grinding to a halt from a critical mass of people large majority of whom are clear beneficiaries but ignorant of what came before ignorant of worlds they glamorize and longing for experiments shallowly and impossibly packaged that have already failed. Along with a blacker minority which includes aspiring fascists and fools who should be careful what they wish for.
Everything that you so perfectly stated is so similar to the book that I am now reading. Written by author Danny Burmawi. Islam Israel and the West.
Great read, and a warning to the people of the west, and its politicians, who take no heed.
Thanks for the kind words, Mark. And for the book recommendation. I just ordered it.
The "useful idiot" Lefties truly are idiots. They will be murdered by the Islamists, just like they were in Iran, after the West is defeated and "superior" Islam rules.
I'm not a historian, but I've read a fair amount concerning Iran. I was a young man when the Shah was deposed. We were all scratching out heads, wondering what it was about.
Earlier in the 2000s, I knew an ex-Iranian who had fled the terror of the 1979 revolution. Pretty nearly his entire family had simply disappeared. He never did know who all the players were in the revolution, and who was backing them.
This piece is the most concise, understandable explanation of Iran's history that I have read. That anyone can support this regime at all confounds me. And scares the hell out of me.
In my limited understanding, the ascent of the current regime and Iran becoming a major regional player with nuclear capabilities are both consequences of US interventions, even if unintended; if this is indeed the case, it's baffling that American "human rights" fans aren't strongly urging their country to clean the mess it's made. It all falls into place though if you accept that the party line's been fed to them by the hopefully dying regime.
I go in and out of your paid subscriber list. This is your best yet, I'm upgrading again
Masterful, my friend. Poignant. Rationally compelling. Morally unyielding.
I had a friend in college from Iran (Isfahan), who celebrated the dethroning of the Shah with joy. Though a history major, I was not familiar with the 20th century history of the country. I accepted his explanation of the corruption of the Shah's regime and brutality of the secret police at face value. But I will never forget the fear in his eyes when he learned who had assumed power. I have never seen that haunting look before or since. I pray that the people of Iran are delivered from this nightmare, throw off the shackles of fear and repression, and that this evil is not replaced by one as bad or worse.
My admiration for your writing is only exceeded by my appreciation for your clarity of thought. Even in the instances when I disagree with you, I am richer for having heard your thoughts. (And on occasion have felt the unpleasant necessity of admitting I was wrong.)
Again, I am fortunate to be able to subscribe and help support your work.
Not good weather for firing up the wood burning samovar, but I hope some day you will be in the area and join me for tea.
The Architecture of a Crisis Manufactured by Hostile Foreign Powers.
An exclusive exposé on the hidden forces, intelligence networks, and propaganda machinery fueling turmoil in Iran.
https://felixabt.substack.com/p/the-architecture-of-a-crisis-manufactured
This is astonishingly heartbreaking.
https://x.com/Osint613/status/2011885587771638105?s=20