Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!

The Giant Dwarf

EDITORIAL | Are World Leaders Dumb, Stupid, Sociopaths, or Psychopaths, or All of the Above (Part 10)?

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A Seat at the Table

By Abraham A. van Kempen
8 August 2025

Diplomatic Invitations and Global Peace Initiatives

According to my guest editor, Tarik Cyril Amar, PhD., Moscow invites the EU-US/NATO leadership to a seat at the table if it regains its sanity (see below ‘GUEST EDITORIAL | LISTEN TO LAVROV: HERE’S WHY RUSSIA WON’T TAKE CRAP FROM THE EU ANYMORE’). The article asserts:

• Russia’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Sergey Lavrov, states that the 'Euro-Atlantic' ideas of security and cooperation are now discredited and exhausted.
• He warns Europe that while it may have a role in future Eurasian systems, it will not be allowed to dictate terms.
• Countries wishing to participate in the process must adopt good manners, abandon their diktat and colonial instincts, and get accustomed to working as equals in a team.

It gets better than that. I can’t make it up.

President Donald J. Trump joins President Vladimir Putin in inviting everyone to sit at the table. Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin, along with Mr. Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China, and possibly the presidents of the original BRICS countries — Brazil, India, and South Africa — deserve to share the Nobel Peace Prize when this EU-US/NATO neo-colonial (neocon) fixation is over and done with for good.

Prof. Mark Episkopos offers an insightful U.S. perspective to formulate a peace initiative between Russia and the EU (view or listen to the video below: MARK EPISKOPOS: LAST CHANCE – PROPOSED US-RUSSIA TERMS FOR UKRAINE PEACE INITIATIVE WITH THE EU MARGINALIZED, HALTING NATO EXPANSION. My reaction? Why so complicated!

The Trump Administration proposed that Ukraine should cede all territories primarily inhabited by Ukrainians of Russian descent and presently under Russian control, including Crimea. I doubt Russia will ever willingly relinquish Crimea again. Would the United States ever give up Guantanamo, its base in Cuba?

However, the Kremlin might be persuaded to transfer control of Ukraine's eastern region, but this would occur gradually and depend on the progress of peace negotiations between the East and West. How could this happen soon? One possibility is inviting both Ukraine and the Russian Federation to consider paths toward joining NATO and the EU. If both are NATO and EU member states, NATO becomes superfluous, as was the case in 1989 when the Soviet Union disintegrated. This presents an exciting opportunity for future cooperation and security. The EU relies on Russian gas, oil, rare earth minerals, and wheat, while Russia is a significant market for European products and services.

These ideas are not new; they have been discussed and promoted by Presidents Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin since the 1980s. The US-EU/NATO alliance historically rejected these proposals, as Henry Kissinger, for one, believed that closer ties between Moscow and Western Europe could threaten Washington’s regional dominance.

Russia’s Vision for European Security

What does Russia want? Simply put, the Russian Federation aims to establish a unified security framework for, by, and within all of Europe, covering the entire continent and involving all European nations. President Trump holds an honored seat at the table.

Shifting Narratives and Western Perceptions

I'm glad to see the ‘Russian Hoax’ coming to light in the United States. I believe that soon, Europeans will also realize that the ‘Russian Hoax,’ allegedly orchestrated by EU leaders and their media allies, is false. Western audiences need to distinguish fact from fiction. Russia isn’t trying to expand into the West; instead, it’s the West that has moved into the East. Russia has prevented the EU from becoming its own worst enemy. It’s worth noting that President Putin may be less of a villain than the combined leadership of Europe, which still appears intent on making risky decisions that could lead us toward a possible World War III.

To sum up:

               A young man, working in the Presidential Affairs Office on Red Square, said when we met several years ago, "President Putin has everything. He's been in power for 17 years. His only wish is that East and West meet and become one."

Civilizational Crossroads

Are we witnessing a clash or a crash (misunderstanding) of civilizations? We are no longer in Stalin's Russia or Roosevelt's America. In relative terms, under Putin, Russia has become more democratic; the Free World, less.

The world has changed whether we like it, want it, or not. Will either ever become perfectly free?

Political Imagery and Misconceptions

Who is the ‘giant dwarf’ shown in the referenced image? It represents the EU-US/NATO alliance. The dwarf, symbolizing the EU, whispers ambitions to the giant—the United States—revealing its limited influence. The EU mistakenly believes that under President Trump, the U.S. will support Eurocentric goals. However, this is a misconception: Mr. Trump clearly understands his policies and the EU’s intentions. During his presidency, the U.S. will remain a powerful, competent global actor, rather than a faltering giant.

What’s about to happen to Ukraine (and the EU) might soon occur in Israel. Like Ukraine, Israel acts as a proxy for the US-EU/NATO to divide, defeat, crush, and cripple its neighbors, just as Ukraine serves its masters to divide, defeat, crush, and cripple Russia. The core issue extends far beyond a simple clash of ideologies, such as authoritarianism versus democracy, or religious differences like Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. At its heart, this is a conflict between the Western neo-colonialist, imperialist system and nearly every other global player. The Western approach tends to be exploitative, professing under the banner of "Holy Goodness," with a focus on maintaining and extending its dominance.

Israel’s 381 million neighbors, making up six percent of the world’s population, are screaming, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! NEVER, EVER AGAIN! If Israel wants a seat at the table, the world expects it to become a better neighbor. And brace yourself. Iran does possess a nuclear arsenal. View or listen to Glenn Diesen interviewing Pentagon Advisor and MIT Prof. Theodore Postol (View or listen below THEODORE POSTOL: IRAN IS NOW AN UNDECLARED NUCLEAR STATE). Dr. Postol presents his theory as though he is lecturing on campus. Don’t worry, it’s easy to follow.

The interview, accompanied by a PowerPoint slideshow, lasts 75 minutes. You can also read Israeli journalist and commentator Moty Kanias's article, ‘ISRAEL WON THE WAR IT FOUGHT BUT IRAN EMERGED VICTORIOUS IN THE ONE THAT MATTERED.’ Moty agrees with Dr. Postol that Tel Aviv and Washington know Iran is armed to influence the Middle East. I trust Iran won’t behave like Israel.

Israel is my home.

Finally, I’ve been asked why I haven’t discussed tariffs more. I support the U.S. applying tariffs on its citizens due to the trade imbalance, with exports at $2,019 trillion and imports at $3,172 trillion. Essentially, President Trump urges Americans to reduce their overseas consumer spending. The elephant in the room, however, is America’s soaring national debt of $38 trillion and rising, in contrast to the US GDP of $29,167 trillion. I have addressed this topic before and will do so again.

Enjoy your weekend.

Abraham

ALEX KRAINER: NATO AND THE EU BECAME OUTDATED IN THE MULTIPOLAR WORLD

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Alex Krainer | The changing significance of the EU and NATO.

Watch the Video Here (40 minutes, 43 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
2 August 2025

The Evolving Role of International Institutions

Alex Krainer, a seasoned market analyst, author, and ex-hedge fund manager, discusses the changing significance of the EU and NATO in today’s multipolar world.

He argues that these organizations no longer serve their initial goals.

As global dynamics evolve, Krainer suggests that new institutions will inevitably replace them.

JOHN MEARSHEIMER: LIBERAL DELUSIONS AND HOW NATO LED UKRAINE DOWN THE PRIMROSE PATH

Prof. Glenn Diesen Engages with Prof. John Mearsheimer: How NATO Has Been Leading Ukraine Astray.

Watch the Video Here (56 minutes, 42 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
01 August 2025

Prof. John J. Mearsheimer serves as the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, a position he has held since 1982.

He discusses his book, "The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities," and explains how NATO has been leading Ukraine astray.

MARK EPISKOPOS: LAST CHANCE – PROPOSED US-RUSSIA TERMS FOR UKRAINE PEACE INITIATIVE WITH THE EU MARGINALIZED, HALTING NATO EXPANSION

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Professor Mark Episkopos | “Ukraine is desperate. It is on the verge of collapse.”

Watch the Video Here (1 hour, 12 minutes, 16 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
05 August 2025

Prof. Mark Episkopos, an Eurasia Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute and adjunct history professor at Marymount University, optimistically notes that although the window for a peace deal is closing quickly, there is still hope.

Although the gap is large, Ukraine is in dire need and on the verge of collapse.

The key difficulty is tying a Ukrainian peace agreement to a broader pan-European security pact that halts NATO expansion.

Europe tends to act as a spoiler, trying to prolong the conflict, yet Europeans can be marginalized.

Please read the article by Mark Episkopos: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/western-weapons-ukraine/

What is the Side of the Story that is Not Yet Decisive? Edited and annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

INDIAN AMBASSADOR M. K. BHADRAKUMAR: INDIA IGNORES TRUMP'S THREATS OF SECONDARY SANCTIONS

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Indian Ambassador M. K. Bhadrakumar | India’s Diplomatic Stance Amid U.S. Pressure.

Watch the Video Here (52 minutes, 42 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
3 August 2025

Background of M. K. Bhadrakumar

M. K. Bhadrakumar has served as an Indian ambassador and diplomat for decades, bringing a wealth of experience and insight to discussions on international affairs.

Analysis of U.S. Pressure

Bhadrakumar addresses the tactics used by the Trump administration, highlighting the use of pressure and threats, including the possibility of secondary sanctions against India. He emphasizes that India, as a sovereign nation, cannot succumb to external pressures that would reduce it to the status of a vassal state.

Optimism for the Future

Despite these challenges, Bhadrakumar expresses optimism that the United States will refrain from imposing further sanctions on Russia. This, in turn, suggests that India will not face secondary sanctions, allowing it to maintain autonomy in its foreign policy decisions.

It is to maintain good relations with the US and Russia. Will India be forced to choose?

SCOTT RITTER | NATO WOULD COLLAPSE IN 72 HOURS—RUSSIA’S NUCLEAR DOCTRINE

“We need diplomacy, not military illusions that don’t exist.”

Watch the Video Here (49 minutes, 10 seconds)

Arka Bahçem
06 August 2025

Scott Ritter presents a provocative and eye-opening perspective worth viewing and listening.

Clarification on Video Title and NATO Concerns

Context of the Video Title

The title of this video, “NATO WOULD COLLAPSE IN 72 HOURS,” explicitly addresses whether NATO would declare war on Russia. This hypothetical scenario examines the potential consequences and responses that may arise in such a situation.

Potential Consequences

If NATO were to take such a drastic step, Russia would likely respond in kind. The main message is clear: provoking conflict on this scale could lead to disastrous results.

Warning Against Escalation

It's essential to heed the warning—"Don’t provoke the beast!" Escalating tensions could have serious outcomes, including the terrifying possibility of a nuclear strike. No one wants a nuclear crater in their backyard.

CHAS FREEMAN: ISRAEL IS OVEREXTENDED, EXHAUSTED & FACING BLOWBACK

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Ambassador Chas Freeman

Watch the Video Here (49 minutes, 13 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
4 August 2025

Analysis of Israel’s Current Position

Ambassador Chas Freeman outlines how Israel finds itself overextended, weary, and encountering significant backlash on the international stage.

Diplomatic and Defense Experience

A distinguished retired diplomat, Freeman was Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs from 1993 to 1994. He was recognized with top public service awards for his role in creating a NATO-centered security system for Europe after the Cold War and for renewing U.S. defense and military relations with China.

Key Diplomatic Assignments

Freeman also served as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Earlier in his career, he was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, playing a pivotal role in U.S. diplomatic efforts to achieve Namibian independence from South Africa and facilitate the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola.

CLARE DALY AND MICK WALLACE: HOW THE EU TRANSFORMED INTO A WAR INITIATIVE

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Clare Daly and Mick Wallace, former members of the European Parliament (MEP).

Watch the Video Here (45 minutes, 56 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
5 August 2025

Clare Daly and Mick Wallace are former Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) known for their criticism of the EU's current geopolitical policies.

Some observers have noted trends such as changes in the EU's prosperity, security, political stability, freedoms, and global influence.

There is an ongoing debate about whether the EU has effectively adapted to an increasingly multipolar world.

THEODORE POSTOL: IRAN IS NOW AN UNDECLARED NUCLEAR STATE

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Pentagon Advisor and MIT Professor Theodore Postol

Watch the Video Here (1 hour, 15 minutes, 34 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
24 July 2025

MIT Professor and Pentagon advisor Ted Postol argues that Iran is likely already an undeclared nuclear state.

EXCLUSIVE: THREATS, LEAKS AND SEX CLAIMS- HOW KHAN’S ISRAEL INQUIRY WAS DERAILED | MEE INVESTIGATION

Intimidation Campaign Against the ICC Chief Prosecutor

Watch the Video Here (15 minutes, 15 seconds)

Middle East Eye (MEE)
1 August 2025

Overview of the Investigation

A major investigation by Middle East Eye has revealed significant details about a growing campaign of intimidation targeting the British chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), who is probing alleged Israeli war crimes.

Nature of the Intimidation Campaign

This campaign has involved direct threats and warnings aimed at Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor. These actions reportedly originate from prominent individuals as well as from close colleagues and family friends, some of whom have been briefing against him.

Concerns for Personal Safety

There are rising concerns for the prosecutor's safety. One notable incident involves reports of a Mossad team operating in The Hague, which has heightened these fears.

MEE contacted the people discussed in the story for comment, and their responses can be found in the whole story: https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-sto...

GUEST EDITORIAL | AS PIERS MORGAN SAID, IF PALESTINIANS MUST LEAVE GAZA, WHY SHOULDN'T ISRAELIS LEAVE ISRAEL?

Why should Arabs always adjust themselves to the security and welfare of Israelis? While crimes in Gaza go on, the world gives voice to remarks that Israelis are not accustomed to, after decades in which the aberration here has become the truth.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon speaks to Piers Morgan on Wednesday.
Credit: Screenshot from Piers Morgan Uncensored/YouTube

By Odeh Bisharat
Haaretz | Opinion
4 August 2025

Many Israelis, officials, journalists, and influencers, as well as ordinary people, are currently freely seeking to perpetrate genocide as well as ethnic cleansing in Gaza, without noticing that there are foreigners in the room. Their behavior is a combination of arrogance, evil, and cruelty.

The world today, despite vast distances, acts like a small kitchenette, with everyone hearing, seeing, and reacting.

The current court-martial for this disgusting Israeli behavior is playing out on British journalist Piers Morgan's TV show.

The guys step up one by one on stage, in full view of the world. They come in cheerful, heads held high and crawl out.

This week's crawler was Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon. In addition to the usual conduct – Morgan presenting facts while the Israeli interviewee responds with absurd denials – the ambassador took the trouble to highlight Israeli "morality."

• Recognizing Palestine won't stop the genocide in Gaza – sanctions on Israel will
• 'We give them 48 hours to leave': Israel's plans to transfer Gazans go back 60 years.
• The identity Israel built over generations now fuels its denial of genocide in Gaza.

This is not, god forbid, ethnic cleansing in Gaza, he said, but it is the right of every Palestinian to seek to leave Gaza and relocate to another country. After his moving remarks, he was thunderstruck by Morgan's response: "And why won't the Israelis leave Israel and allow Gazans the opportunity to live there?"

I admit, I felt the ground tremble beneath my feet. A British interviewer, who recently defended Israel passionately, is now turning the same critique toward this senior Israeli.

Why should Palestinians leave? Why not Israelis?

Why should Arabs always adjust to the security and welfare of Israelis? If Gaza is such a problem, then the Israelis are responsible. Especially since Gazans were there first, and according to trade union rules, last in, first out.

We are now witnessing an incredible phenomenon. While crimes in Gaza go on, the world gives voice to remarks that Israelis are not accustomed to, after decades in which the aberration here has become the truth. Now things are beginning to turn.

Palestinians carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Sunday. Credit: Ebrahim Hajjaj/Reuters

Israel, in the soccer match it's currently playing against the rest of the globe, has sent all its players, including the goalkeeper, to play offense. Its goal was left unattended, and all the questions that had hitherto been kept quiet for sympathy with the pain of Jews during the Holocaust are flooding the discourse.

Videos have now been shared that parody the claim of Jewish birthright over the land as justification for seizing Arab territory. The assertion that Arabs pose a threat to Israel also appears absurd given its extensive conquests and the impressive display of power in Gaza and across the region.

As Israel adopts more extreme positions, it weakens its own arguments. The faster it advances and destroys Gaza and the West Bank, the more global opinion pushes back. Historical questions are resurfacing, such as whether the mass expulsion in 1948 should be considered a war crime.

Israel, initially backed after Hamas' attack, now faces strong emotions: vengeance and messianic zeal. October 7 is viewed by some as a chance to fulfill distorted prophetic words.

Vengeance destroys the avenger, and messianism promises eternal war.

Israel should swiftly resolve the 1948, 1967, Gaza, and West Bank cases; otherwise, some might trace back to the First Zionist Congress in Basel, questioning Europeans' ties to Palestine, which was beyond the mountains for them.

The series of Israeli arguments are falling apart, and if the extremists here keep repeating their "It's us or them" mantra, I'm worried we will end up in a "neither us nor them" situation, and hell will consume us all.

OPINION | RECOGNIZING PALESTINE WOULDN'T STOP THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA – SANCTIONS ON ISRAEL WILL

European recognition of Palestine is a hollow gesture that lets Israel off the hook. Without sanctions to stop the slaughter in Gaza, it's not diplomacy – it's complicity.

Israeli troops deploy with their tanks near the border fence with the Gaza Strip on Friday. Credit: AFP/Jack Guez

By Gideon Levy
Haaretz | Opinion
3 August 2025

International recognition of a Palestinian state rewards Israel, which should thank countries doing so, as it distracts from the real solution, imposing sanctions.

Recognition is a hollow substitute for boycotts and punishments against countries perpetrating and perpetuating genocide. Weak European governments use it as lip service to appease a public angered by their silence.

Recognizing a Palestinian state, which likely won't exist soon, is shameful silence. People are starving in Gaza, and Europe's response is to identify a Palestinian state. Will this help Gazans? Israel can ignore these claims with U.S. support.

There's talk of a diplomatic "tsunami" in Israel, in the knowledge that it won't reach Israel's shores, as long as the imposition of a price tag for genocide doesn't accompany recognition.

• Denying Gaza's starvation is no less vile than denying the Holocaust
• Israel's genocide in Gaza: 'Not in my name' won't erase liberal complicity
• The victim identity of Israel built over generations now fuels its denial of genocide in Gaza

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer outdid himself, becoming one of the first to recognize Palestine in the current wave, following France. He framed his action as a conditional punishment, promising to withdraw his warning if Israel behaves.

What kind of punishment is this, Mr. Prime Minister? If recognizing Palestine promotes a solution, why present it as a penalty? And if it's punitive, where is it?

That's how fear of Donald Trump paralyzes Europe, making it clear that sanctions on Israel will be costly. The world prefers verbal protests now. Sanctions work for Russian invasions, not Israeli ones.

Starmer's move led many others to follow suit, which is presented in Israel as a diplomatic landslide, a tsunami. This will not stop the genocide, which will not be halted without practical steps by the international community. These are unbearably urgent since the killing and intense hunger in Gaza continue.

Palestinians receive lentil soup at a food distribution point in Gaza City on Saturday. Credit: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP

Recognition won't create a state. Settler leader Daniella Weiss once said after previous recognitions, "I open my window and see no Palestinian state." She won't see one soon either.

In the short term, Israel benefits from acknowledgements as a substitute for deserved punishment. Long term, recognizing an imaginary state may help find a solution.

But one needs extreme optimism and naivety to believe recognition is still relevant. There has never been a worse time; recognition now is like whistling in the dark. The Palestinians are leaderless, and Israel's leaders have thwarted such a state and succeeded.

It's positive that 10 Downing Street supports a Palestinian state, but given Jerusalem's silence, Yitzhar's ultra-orthodox settlers destroying Palestinian property, and Washington's backing of Israel, a Palestinian state won't happen.

When Israel's right is strong, supporting annexation and opposing a Palestinian state, with Hamas as the leading Palestinian group and settlers dominant in Israel, what Palestinian state are we discussing? Where would it be?

A storm in a teacup. The world fulfils its duty while Israel destroys and starves. The ethnic cleansing plan espoused by Israel's government is being realized in Gaza first. One cannot conceive of worse conditions for engaging in dreams of statehood.

Where would it be established— in a tunnel between Yitzhar and Itamar? Is there a force capable of evacuating hundreds of thousands of settlers? Which one?

Is there a political camp that would fight for this?

Practical punitive measures should first force Israel to end the war—Europe has the means—and then prioritize the only remaining solution: a democracy between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River; one person, one vote.

Apartheid or democracy.

To our horror, there's no third path anymore.

OPINION | A GAZA CEASE-FIRE ISN'T LETTING HAMAS WIN. IT'S ISRAEL'S ONLY WAY TO COME OUT ON TOP

No matter what, Hamas will claim it has won in Gaza. But Israel must define itself by its values, not theirs – and those values are that we leave no hostage behind.

Demonstrators gather during an anti-government protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militants since the October 7 attacks, outside the US embassy branch office in Tel Aviv. Credit: AFP / JACK GUEZ

By Moty Kanias
Haaretz | Opinion
24 July 2025

Moty Kanias is a reservist colonel in the IDF's Intelligence and Operations divisions, and a former senior executive in Israel security agencies.

Hamas isn't just a terror group; it's a movement rooted in resistance to Israel, driven by ideology, and sustained by destruction. It's a sophisticated propaganda machine that weaponizes information. Hamas aims for survival, symbolism, and story rather than victory, mastering narrative warfare to shape victim narratives in Israeli responses.

Their strategy is calculated: keep fighters safe in tunnels using civilians as shields and propaganda. Palestinian suffering isn't collateral damage to Hamas – it's part of their resistance mythos.

In the current war, Hamas has lost commanders and infrastructure. The Israeli army reports it has lost tens of thousands of operatives and terrorists in combat.

• When a Gaza cease-fire is signed, Israelis will realize how much we lost the war.
• The only way to bring the Gaza war to an end and prevent future bloodshed is through a resolution.
• In northern Gaza, Israeli officers view tactical success as shaping the war's endgame.

But these are tactical losses. The movement thrives on the resistance narrative, surviving each war by claiming, “We are still here,” which they see as a victory. For Israel, tactical dominance isn't enough. The board is set. The king is cornered. This is a check, not checkmate. Over the past 21 months, the IDF has fought with determination.

The October 7 massacre was more than just a tragic event; it deeply shattered the illusion that Israel's enemies were deterred. What happened next wasn't simply retaliation, but a significant regional transformation, marking a profound change in the landscape.

Israel eliminated Hezbollah's top leaders, Hassan Nasrallah and his successor, with a Mossad operation that destroyed their pagers and radios, causing chaos. Israel also attacked ground forces, nearly collapsing the northern front.

Israel's actions against Hezbollah affected Syria, undermining Iran and aiding Bashar Assad's fall. As the regime collapsed, Israel targeted Syrian military assets and weapons depots to stop extremists from getting advanced weapons and secured key border areas to protect communities.

In the south, and despite international pressure, Israel entered Rafah and secured the Philadelphi Corridor.

Even under global hesitation, targeting nuclear sites, missile infrastructure, Revolutionary Guard leaders, and Islamic Republic officials.

In a densely populated battleground, the IDF carried out Gaza missions, trying to reduce civilian harm by evacuating areas beforehand and warning civilians.

Today, Israel faces global criticism, with some nations condemning its actions and others delaying or withholding arms shipments, questioning their legitimacy.

Please continue reading

ISRAEL WON THE WAR IT FOUGHT. BUT IRAN EMERGED VICTORIOUS IN THE ONE THAT MATTERED

Each side fought for different goals and claimed different victories. Israel did manage to achieve a few of its objectives, but Iran maintained its defensive position on everything it needed

People burn the representations of the U.S. and Israeli flags as a poster of the late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini is held at right during the funeral ceremony of Iranian armed forces generals, nuclear scientists, and their family members killed in a 12-day war with Israel, in Tehran, Iran. Credit: Vahid Salemi, AP

By Moty Kanias
Haaretz | Opinion
8 July 2025

Iran has been enriching uranium and threatening the region with nuclear weapons, leading to last month's war. However, what appeared as a single war—Israel's victory—actually consisted of two wars: one Israel won, and the other Iran won.

Israel and the U.S. had a clear mission in their joint endeavor: To strike Iran's nuclear program and restore regional deterrence by crippling Iran's nuclear and ballistic infrastructure. Hit the facilities. Destroy the capabilities. Eliminate the threats—Annihilate expertise. Set back Iran's atomic timeline by years.

Yes, these strikes were crucial and successful in hitting their targets. However, the timing was four years too late.

• Not on Israel's target list: The Iranian TV channel challenging Tehran
• From AIPAC to Netanyahu and Gaza: Does Trump want to reshape U.S.-Israel relations?
• 500 missiles, 200 interceptors, $1.5 billion: Behind Iran's attacks on Israel

Iran began enriching uranium to 60 percent in April 2021 and has since built a stockpile of 408 kilograms enriched to just below weapons grade, ensuring the program's survival even after potential attacks. Israel led the campaign, with the U.S. delivering the heaviest blows using bunker-busting bombs. Coordination was tight, and intelligence was precise, demonstrating a strong alliance between Israel and the United States. The world watched as the Natanz and Fordow enrichment sites were struck in Operation Midnight Hammer (U.S.) and Rising Lion (Israel). Missile factories, research sites, key scientists, and military leaders were targeted, severely damaging Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities.

But all of that was replaceable. Iran kept the 408 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, enough to continue its nuclear program without the old infrastructure, the Islamic Republic's sacrificial lamb or Trojan horse.

Each side pursued different goals and claimed different victories. Israel succeeded in achieving a few objectives: destroying infrastructure, aligning the U.S. with their side, and damaging Iran's aerial defenses.

These objectives weren’t achievable four years ago when they could have better prevented Iran's uranium enrichment. Only after the regional and strategic shifts of October 7 did they become feasible. First, Iran's air defenses degraded after the April 2024 attacks between Iran and Israel. Then, Israel's victory over Hezbollah eliminated Iran's key proxy. Lastly, Syria’s Assad regime collapsed. Iran's protective shield was dismantled piece by piece.

All of this was necessary for Israel even to consider targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. However, acting now is too late since the uranium has already been enriched.

Iran fought a different war, not militarily, but politically, for survival and legitimacy. They aimed to turn losses into proof of importance, making hits seem like a sign of respect from superpowers. Although their nuclear infrastructure was damaged, they prioritized three outcomes they deemed more critical than Fordow, generals, or strikes during a live TV broadcast.

Please continue reading

GUEST EDITORIAL | LISTEN TO LAVROV: HERE’S WHY RUSSIA WON’T TAKE CRAP FROM THE EU ANYMORE.

On the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Accords, there’s little to celebrate for those who wanted a harmonious coexistence.

FILE PHOTO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. © Sputnik / Sergey Bobylev

By Tarik Cyril Amar, a historian from Germany working at Koç University, Istanbul, on Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe, the history of World War II, the cultural Cold War, and the politics of memory

@tarikcyrilamartarikcyrilamar.substack.comtarikcyrilamar.com

HomeWorld News
6 August 2025

Whether you like him or not, Otto von Bismarck—Prussian aristocrat, staunch conservative, manipulator of German nationalism, military strategist, and later peacemaker—was no fool. His ego matched the size of the Reich. Still, even Bismarck held a bit of humility. He once said that practical politics involves listening for "God’s step" as He moves through "world history," and then seizing the edge of His cloak.

Stay alert to current needs and opportunities. Bismarck excelled at seizing war prospects, but peace also offers chances. Fifty years ago, European countries, the US, and Canada signed the Helsinki Final Act.

The Helsinki Final Act addressed four key areas of international relations, marking a significant breakthrough for Détente in Europe. Led by Brezhnev, Gromyko, Nixon, and Kissinger, this global effort aimed to improve the management of the Cold War.

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 wasn’t the only reason for caution. The risk of nuclear war, as depicted in Dr. Strangelove, prompted reflection. US issues in Vietnam added to this. By the late 1960s, the desire to ease tensions led Washington to ignore the Soviet crackdown on the 1968 Prague Spring. In the early 1970s, diplomatic efforts and treaties intensified, reaching a peak during the Détente era. By 1975, the Helsinki Accords marked the culmination of these efforts.

The Helsinki Accords originated from Soviet and Warsaw Pact initiatives, aligning with Western Europe's and NATO's post-Harmel efforts to merge defense with diplomacy and negotiations. They also drew on France's De Gaulle’s ‘politique à l’Est’ and Germany’s Willy Brandt’s ‘Ostpolitik.”

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Germany and the rest of the EU transforming into the Fourth Reich – Lavrov

The latter is maligned in Germany, where elites have indulged in Russophobia and militarism. In reality, De Gaulle, Brandt, and Bahr made historic contributions to easing Cold War tensions and paving the way for reunification.

After 1975, things worsened and haven't improved. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently highlighted this in a detailed article. Western media often overlook what Russian politicians say, so few outside Russia notice. That’s unfortunate because Lavrov has important messages we should heed.

Under the title “Half a Century of the Helsinki Act: Expectations, Realities, and Perspectives,” Lavrov critiques the failure after Helsinki's promising start, blaming the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The OSCE succeeds the CSCE, which created the Helsinki Accords between 1972 and 1975. Before leaders could sign them, there were years of careful negotiations. As Cold War historian Jussi Hanhimäki noted, it was a "largely ceremonial affair." The lesson: serious results require serious preparation, not brief grandstanding.

The OSCE, with 57 member states, is the world's largest security organization, yet it has massively underperformed, especially when measured by its original aims set at Helsinki during Détente.

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Zelensky calls for ‘regime change’ in Russia.

The OSCE could have been a key international forum, bridging geopolitics and values, potentially forming the core of a new security architecture from Lisbon to Vladivostok. To achieve this, it would need to adhere to the principles of the Helsinki Accords, which include respecting sovereignty, equality, and non-interference, while maintaining consensus.

The OSCE initially transformed from a Cold War entity into a post-Cold War instrument of Western influence, bias, and realpolitik masked as multilateralism. It should have been fundamentally separate from NATO, like the EU, but ultimately became a junior partner in America’s imperial system.

Much of Lavrov’s article details failures across countries like Chechnya, Kosovo, Moldova, and Ukraine. It corrects simplistic Western narratives that blame Russia for the shortcomings of the Helsinki and OSCE processes. It also criticizes Ukraine’s Zelensky for using the Helsinki anniversary to call for "regime change" in Russia.

Lavrov’s message highlights Russia’s view of a polycentric, Eurasian-focused future, reminiscent of the 1950s when Moscow proposed a security architecture that the West rejected for excluding the US.

By the 1970s, the Soviet leadership changed its position, recognizing the possibility of involving the US, which enabled the Helsinki process. This contrasts with the myth of Russian intransigence.

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Western ‘support’ for Ukraine is losing the world.

That inclusion was an ironic twist in history, as Washington initially exhibited only distrust and contempt. As Hanhimäki has documented, Henry Kissinger saw Europe as a sideshow—though not the Soviet Union; the US has always held more respect for its opponents than for its vassals. He believed that if Moscow and Western Europe grew too close, it could threaten Washington’s dominance over the region. He once remarked to his team, with a hint of racist sarcasm, that the Helsinki agreements might as well be written in Swahili.

Moscow is once again standing firm against Transatlanticism.

• Lavrov states that the 'Euro-Atlantic' ideas of security and cooperation are now discredited and exhausted.
• He warns Europe that while it may have a role in future Eurasian systems, it will not be allowed to dictate terms.
• Countries wishing to participate in the process must adopt good manners, abandon their diktat and colonial instincts, and get accustomed to working as equals in a team.

You might think this is far from current Europe: one that is submissive to the US, as shown by the Turnberry Trade and Tariff Fiasco, blinded by hubris in its “garden-in-the-jungle,” and obsessed with avoiding talks with Russia and confronting China.

None of the above can last forever, especially given the self-destructive nature of these policies. Moscow indicates Russia hasn't closed Europe's door, if Europeans regain their sanity.

BUILDING THE BRIDGE! | A WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE OTHER AND ONE ANOTHER

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanism for Many to Move Mountains

Photo Credit: Abraham A. van Kempen, our home away from home on the Dead Sea

By Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor
Updated 19 January 2024

Those who commit to 'healing our broken humanity' build intercultural bridges to learn to know and understand one another and others. Readers who thumb through the Building the Bridge (BTB) pages are not mindless sheep following other mindless sheep. They THINK. They want to be at the forefront of making a difference. They're in search of the bigger picture to expand their horizons. They don't need BTB or anyone else to confirm their biases.

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanism for Many to Move Mountains

Accurate knowledge fosters understanding, dispels prejudice, and sparks a desire to learn more about the subject. Words have an extraordinary power to bring people together, divide them, forge bonds of friendship, or provoke hostility. Modern technology offers unprecedented possibilities for good, fostering harmony and reconciliation. Yet, its misuse can cause untold harm, leading to misunderstandings, prejudices, and conflicts.

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