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  History has a wicked sense of humor. Every few centuries it allows a powerful state to believe it has finally defeated the laws of history — that it has become permanent, untouchable, immune to collapse. And then history laughs . This is the uncomfortable lesson raised by Israeli historian in his striking reflection comparing modern with the once-glorious of South India. It is not a prophecy. It is something far more dangerous. It is a reminder. When Empires Believe Their Own Propaganda Five hundred years ago the  Vijayanagara Empire was the envy of the world. Founded in 1336 by and , its magnificent capital near dazzled travelers . Markets overflowed with diamonds. Temples rose like mountains. Armies marched in numbers that seemed endless. European visitors described the city as one of the richest places on Earth . By the early 1500s, under the legendary ruler , Vijayanagara believed itself unstoppable. Its armies crushed rivals. Its trade networks f...

  A sarcastic meditation on strategic genius In the latest installment of the intellectual theater hosted by the — featuring pundits like and — readers were treated to a familiar performance. One side argued that bombing advances “freedom.” The other wondered whether anyone involved has the faintest idea what they’re doing. Both may be right. But they are missing the most obvious subplot: while Washington debates democracy in Tehran, the global economy is quietly preparing to jump off a cliff. Apparently freedom now travels on cruise missiles — and inflation. The War That Accidentally Targets the Global Economy Let’s begin with the geography lesson that war planners sometimes forget. The Persian Gulf is not just a battlefield. It is the central nervous system of the world’s energy supply . Around one-fifth of global oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz every single day. And conveniently — for those who enjoy economic panic — that strait sits directly beside Iran. ...

We used to ask if AI could replace writers or coders. Today, we must ask if it can replace generals. The whispers echoing from the Beltway are true: The Pentagon—now frequently referenced as the Department of War in official documentation—has officially embraced Silicon Valley's standard-bearer, signing a deal to integrate OpenAI's ChatGPT technology into the nation's classified military infrastructure. This isn’t just a procurement contract; it’s a seismic shift in national security. Following the dramatic, administration-led removal of Anthropic (deemed a "supply-chain risk" by the current Trump administration), OpenAI did not hesitate. They filled the void, striking a deal that brings GPT-5 variants directly to the classified edge. This is no longer a rumor. This is the new reality of the American defense machine. Here is the blueprint of what this historic, and deeply controversial, partnership actually entails. The Deal: Classified Networks and a Multi-Millio...

  When Ross Douthat   argues that the Iran war is fundamentally Donald Trump’s war , he is not merely assigning blame. He is identifying a pattern — a political instinct that has defined from the moment he descended the escalator in 2015 to the launch of missiles in 2026. Trump’s power has never been ideological purity. It has never been policy depth. It has been something more primal — an instinct for weakness. He senses rot behind polished facades. He sees vulnerability where others see permanence. And he strikes. In 2016, he saw that the Republican establishment was hollowed out by Iraq and the financial crisis. He tore through it. He saw the complacency in ’s campaign. He exploited it. He sensed fatigue and fragmentation after 2020 — and clawed his way back. Now, as Douthat suggests, he believes he sees weakness in Tehran. Iran as Opportunity Trump’s calculation, as interpreted by Douthat, is stark: Iran’s regional networks have been degraded. Its revoluti...

  For 152 years, the University of Adelaide has stood on the banks of the River Torrens as more than an academic institution. It has been a sanctuary for ideas, a crucible of dissent, and a birthplace of some of Australia’s most influential writers, thinkers, and reformers. Today, it finds itself at the center of a global controversy — one that tests not only its policies, but its legacy. The university’s decision to cancel a literary festival event featuring UN Special Rapporteur has ignited a firestorm. The event, part of Constellations: Not Writers’ Week , was to be held at Elder Hall before being abruptly withdrawn over what the university described as procedural issues. Organizers dispute that claim. The deeper question is not about paperwork. It is about the role of a university in turbulent times. A University Born in Defiance Founded in 1874, the University of Adelaide was radical from the beginning. It was the third-oldest university in Australia — and among the ...

  When Haaretz published Vera Weidenbach’ s analysis — “ How Trump’s Anti-Diplomacy Bent Shocked Europe Into Paralysis on Iran ” — it was not merely commentary on another Middle Eastern escalation. It was an obituary for a certain idea of Europe : the Europe that believed diplomacy, law and multilateralism could restrain raw power . Now that illusion lies in ruins. A War That Bypassed Europe The joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran — ordered by and coordinated with — did more than hit military and nuclear targets . They struck at Europe’s self-image . For years, European capitals positioned themselves as mediators . They believed they could keep channels open with Tehran, preserve nuclear oversight mechanisms, and prevent a slide toward regional war. But when Washington chose force over negotiation , Europe wasn’t consulted — it was informed . The message was unmistakable: This is no longer your table. Germany’s Delicate Dilemma Nowhere is the paralysis more visible...

Missile sirens interrupt the writing. Shelters interrupt the sentences. History interrupts itself. On March 2, 2026, former Mossad official and security analyst offered what may become one of the most sobering assessments of this new and dangerous chapter in Middle Eastern warfare. What he described was not merely a military escalation. It was a collision of miscalculations—strategic, moral, and political. And perhaps, a war that nobody fully understands. The Illusion of Negotiation Just days before the bombs fell, there was still talk of diplomacy between Washington and Tehran. Even Alpher believed a US-Iran nuclear deal was more likely than war. He was wrong. Why? Because the perceptual gulf between Iran and the US-Israel axis was wider than anyone imagined. Iranian leaders—from Supreme Leader downward—reportedly gathered without serious precaution. The result: an opening strike that decapitated the regime’s top tier. Was this overconfidence? A misreading of President ’s...

  If you enjoy glossy self-congratulation with your morning coffee, then Bret Stephens ’s latest ode to the “historic courage” of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu is a must-read. In Stephens’s world, there’s something noble — nay, heroic — about a war that just so happened to result in the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, stoke regional fury, and trigger an open-ended U.S.–Israel military campaign. If you squint just right, there’s even jubilation on the streets of Iran — or at least that’s what the Wall Street Journal told him to believe. Stephens trots out the old interventionist playbook: villains defeated, freedom advanced, dictators trembling. Never mind that this war was launched without congressional authorization and in tension with international legal norms. Critics like the American Civil Liberties Union have called it unconstitutional; scholars like Kenneth Roth have labeled it illegal aggression. But dismiss such concerns — after all, the smoke of bo...