To the surprise of no one, Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran in an open manner, bombing a number of cities, generating casualties, the most significant being the assassination of Supreme leader Ayatullah Ali Khameini. Iran has retaliated by launching missiles and drones at various places within the Middle East which play host to United States bases, and of course on Israel itself. How the military side of things plays out in the immediate future is impossible to predict with precision, but it should be noted that the mechanisms of how we have arrived at this point be studied from various angles, with as much fairness as possible.
In short, we have arrived at this stage for a number of reasons, summarized as follows.
(1) In the very recent situation, protests against skyrocketing inflation (itself a byproduct of U.S. economic sanctions) were infiltrated with what can be politely referred to as rioters, burning everything from police stations, mosques, homes and much more, leading to thousands of deaths.
(2) The Iranian authorities described such persons as agents of the United States and Israel, with an agenda of creating enough social chaos to collapse the Iranian government. The Internet was temporarily shut down in Iran in order to limit the abilities of the rioters to coordinate, a move which seems to have worked. Both The US and Israel, in various official and unofficial public communications, acknowledged their hand in these things, attempted to circumvent the Iranian move (by the use of smuggled Starlink terminals). Indeed, US president Donald Trump directly called for Iranians to move against the government and stated "help is on the way." Thus, another pretext was used in an attempt to justify military attacks on Iran by the United States.
(3) When this failed (although it did lead to the deaths of thousands), The Trump administration changed tactics, threatening attacks to disable Iran's "ambitions " to possess Nuclear weapons. For those who have kept up with these issues over the years, this was laughable. Not only was the nuclear sites attacked by the United States in the so called 12-day war, Iran has for decades maintained that they are against nuclear weapons, but only want to utilize Nuclear technology for domestic purposes. More importantly, a treaty was already in place by The Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) an agreement which the United States unilaterally withdrew from upon Trump's second term. See Here New York Times perspective
(4) In any case, peace talks took place, albeit in unusual circumstances, mediated by the government of Oman. It is in this context, while talks are still under way, that Israel and the United States simply launched attacks anyway. Recent behavior of the Israelis show that war still occurs, in the most treacherous ways, and that at core neither agreement, morality or common sense would be utilized. This is demonstrated by the Israeli attack on Doha, Qatar itself, targeting Hamas leaders while in peace talks with them In September 2025. The fact that the United States did NOT defend Qatar from an attack (despite the presence of their air force as well as defense technology) shows that at core, neither the US nor Israel can be trusted at all!
(5) The peace talks mediated by Oman was on the nuclear question, which even Iranian officials were saying that progress was being made. Then, the Trump administration demands it be on missile technology. The goalposts keep moving because the claims to want diplomacy and peace was all subterfuge. The desire is NOT peace, but rather the total overthrow of the Iranian authorities.
(6) Common sense demonstrates that the Iranians would respond, and have done so by launching attacks on U.S. bases and other military targets that are based in the region, such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, The United Arab Emirates, and of course Israel itself. The long-term impact of such actions have yet to reveal themselves, but it is obvious that the world economic system will be devastated should Iran choose to close the Straits of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil travels.
The above is simply common sense, a straightforward analysis that can be easily understood. Indeed, we can say that even the Trump administration has -by and large- been open with stating its overall agenda of death and destruction, using only thinly disguised excuses as pretext to present justifications.
The false justifications mirror past accusations which led to other conflicts, such as the assertions that Iraq had to be invaded by the United States in order to remove "weapons of mass destruction" (WMD) in 2003. This is an example of gaslighting in the sense that we have been expected to have forgotten this pattern in recent history. False pretexts exist throughout the history of wars, especially conflicts directed against Muslim nations.
The false justifications in the current conflict have been built up particularly in social media, with the most ridiculous accusations directed towards Iran, such as sanctioning pedophilia, hatred against local Christians and Jews, and much more. As a student of history, theology and related topics, I have been particularly annoyed at these assertions, which are obviously mostly directed towards American politicians and public which is mostly uneducated in these fields.
Arrogance
The American push against Iran-directed by Israel- is a reflection of a bigger attitude of "Might Makes Right" as well as White privilege. That class in power, the same with deep connection to the late Jeffrey Epstein, sees themselves as better than everyone else, that any actions they initiate are for the benefit of the planet. This class has become emboldened in recent years, to the extent that U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth directly said that the United States is not obligated, nor will follow "stupid rules of engagement" or engage in "politically correct wars."
Recently, the United States Ambassador to Israel-Mike Huckabee- in an interview asserted that Israel has a God-given right to "take" the entire Middle East. Although the Trump administration publicly distanced itself from that statement, it simply is a reflection of already held views in that circle.
Ultimately, these actions and attitudes are poorly thought out, leading to nothing except continued wars that bring no benefit. It is the average people who will suffer the most. I believe that the recent trends in American society to present minorities such as the Somalis (in Minnesota and Ohio) as villains has been initiated in order to provide easy scapegoats, to distract average citizens by directing their anger towards visible minorities. Indeed, it would seem that ICE actions, even President Trump's own comments in his recent State Of The Union address, are meant to facilitate this nonsense.
An Islamic take on these issues
Firstly, the Qur'an has told us that when those who are guilty of flagrant violation of the rules of conduct give us information, that information needs to be subjected to scrutiny before believing and acting on it (Q 49:6). Similarly, the Qur'an has described these forces as those who will proclaim with the loudest voices that they are a class which only wants the best for mankind, rejects any reasonable pleas to reasonable behavior, but rather attempt to manipulate the public via all the media mechanisms at their command (Q 2:9-16).
For average apolitical audiences, it is necessary to exercise a healthy skepticism, stay informed, but perhaps most importantly to not allow the toxic thinking patterns of the Epstein-type class to infiltrate our hearts and minds. Tyranny will not last forever. Eventually, the system of oppression, hatred, racism and arrogance will collapse, and it will collapse largely as a result of its own actions. In the meantime, never believe what this class of abusers say, at least not without verification. Be safe, be active, and develop the tools needed for as much independence as possible. In a broader sense, Muslims-in particular powerful Muslim nations- need these reminders as well, especially in light of sectarian and ethnic conflicts, as we have seen between the brother nations of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Disunity only benefits the Epstein types who have been widely reported to have engaged in sexual abuse, murders, political and social manipulation, and even some levels of child sacrifice See here
Wa Billaahit Tawfeeq.
Introduction
We are in regular contact with people worldwide, employed in a variety of contexts, crossing national, class, sectarian and even religious barriers, and what is almost universally agreed is that our world is in a state of chaos. At whatever angle we look at it, it is hard pressed to see much in the way of positive news. It is our intention, in the following paragraphs, to share some thoughts on the main events taking place, situations that can often have a direct impact on our readers.
Iranian unrest
Protests have erupted in various Iranian cities, leading to confrontations with law enforcement in certain areas, leading to at least 538 deaths according to a PBS report. In addition to this, police officers have been killed, as well as sites such as mosques have been destroyed. I have noticed that much of the English content on these events have come from Pro-Shah supporters, filled with deliberate falsehoods regarding both the Pre and Post Khomeini era, obviously meant to influence the wider audience to see the Iranian state as unreasonable fanatics bent on world conquest. The hand of both the Trump administration and Israel are openly shown in stocking the Iranian unrest, not only in creating the environment of economic instability (via decades of sanctions, trade restrictions. covert and overt intrigue) but also in open acknowledgement of the involvement of MOSSAD (The Israeli intelligence services) on the ground.
Added confusion lies in the control of the Internet and the usage of AI technology, which can make it difficult to accurately perceive which message carries the most active support among Iranians living inside Iran. For a Western audience, particularly those who are largely ignorant of outside historical, cultural and political realities, this is perhaps the most important question that requires an answer. Many Americans will depend upon anecdotal guidance via summarized (slanted) stories from media or from acquaintances of a (insert which nation or region) pedigree.
Operation Absolute Resolve & implications for the future
A brazen, yet politically bizarre, endeavor came to fruition on January 3rd, 2026 with a Delta Force group that invaded Venezuela to capture its President and his wife (Nicolas Maduro & Cilia Flores). This operation was preceded with months of bombings of particular boats and sites within the South American nation by US forces, mainly under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking to the United States. This assertion is now widely dismissed as a rather pathetic claim, which has forced the Trump administration to switch the issue towards openly expressing the intention to dominate Venezuelan natural resources, including its oil.
Ironically, the newly available Venezuelan oil has not been tempting to everyone within the industry. ExxonMobil has expressed such skepticism openly, to the point where President Trump himself has indicated that he is "inclined" to keep it out of any future access. Moreover, it appears that on a practical level, the oil resources would not be available anytime soon, making the entire effort null and void!
Another interesting theory is that the capture of Venezuela's oil resources would be needed to offset damage to the economic system should Iran choose to close the Straits of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil traffic passes.
In any case, I see the future in even bigger terms that what has been described. Indeed, emboldened by the clear kidnapping of Maduro, President Trump (mostly through X) has issued threats to Columbia and Cuba. The US has conducted operations in places as diverse as Nigeria, Syria and been as of late openly threatening to annex Greenland for "security needs".
Economics and addressing threats to Israel are not the only driving forces behind these rather odd actions. These actions are all designed to instill fear and outright terror in the hearts of friend and foe alike. Returning to Greenland, it is not enemy territory. It is a part of Denmark, which is of course a NATO member-state. The Trump bid for Greenland, by hook or crook, while certainly irrational in outer appearance, is a reminder that US power is still present and not up for dispute or negotiation.
Xenophobia ( Immigration, ICE, Somalis)
On the domestic front, The United States of America is facing multiple issues. While most are arguably questions of legality, I actually think it is the social arena that has more of an impact that deserves attention. Xenophobia has become not only a theory that is platformed within mainstream media, but it is also normalized, as demonstrated by countless discussions we have engaged in with people, fed by the media (devoid of depth) on various cultural, historical and religious expressions. Often it seems as if even the poor and middle class Americans have no problem to "vote against their own interests"- as long as "the other" is somehow either punished or derived of some perceived gain.
The Somalian community, with a strong presence in Minnesota and Columbus, Ohio, are under great scrutiny. Marriages are assumed to be of an illegal or even immoral nature, businesses as a whole are assumed to be involved in fraud, and of course the Boogeyman of "funding terrorism in Africa". While Somalis are not the only immigrant community in the United States, they make for an easy target by ambitious politicians and outright clout chasers looking for money and views in part because of their skin color and outward Muslim appearance. Thus, it is deemed acceptable to direct negative attention to them.
The USA has always had an issue with racism within society, with official sanction or at least tolerated to a certain degree, however it has become more visible during the lead-up to the first Trump presidency, as the fear of "replacement" of Whites by Non-Whites is a real phobia. Our readers may recall the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia protests with the slogan "you will not replace us" shouted.
Thus, there are many elements which are leading to the current climate of openly expressed racist stereotypes and general xenophobia. Racism ultimately thrives on power. Indeed, It has been argued that a weak group cannot truly be "racist". ICE has been weaponized in communities throughout the United States, bringing with it a host of lawsuits, tensions with local law enforcement, and sometimes deadly confrontations, as seen with the recent death of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A 37 year old White woman, her shooting has been seen as a stark reminder of the serious situation faced on a domestic front.
Censorship
While most Americans became exposed to the realities of censorship, limiting freedom of speech while protesting against the genocide of Palestinians by the state of Israel, it seemed confined to academia. Universities were threatened financially to curb Pro-Palestinian activities. The September 2025 assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk has only added fuel to this fire. Academics and activists were harassed and even fired from their jobs for being critical of Kirk's views.
Are these seemingly disparate issues connected?
Indeed these issues are connected. Their main connection is that they expose that the empire is decaying. I find it ridiculous that funds can be directed towards financing armies overseas, destabilizing other nations, as well as the activities of ICE, yet homelessness remains a great challenge. 40% - 60% of Americans cannot meet their basic financial needs, and we read in the book Broke in America: Seeing, Understanding and Ending U.S. Poverty by Joanne Samuel Goldblum and Colleen Shaddox that "the United States is doing virtually nothing to change the situation..the government spends far less on programs to make housing available...Policy and what one advocate calls " the commodification of housing" encourages surging prices that literally leaves too many people out in the cold." (pg.53).
When the leadership chooses to ignore issues such as this and concentrate on vilifying others, it shows that they have no vision for the future, other than temporary glitter. Much has been made of the Iranian protests, which initially started as a reply to the devaluation of the local currency. Yet, the current government, preceded by the rule of the Pro-West Shah (Mohammed Reza Pahlavi) had much of the same evidence of decay. In 1971, the Shah had thrown a party, celebrating the 2500 year anniversary of the Persian empire. It was extravagant. French cuisine was served. An entire tent city was built. The total cost of this week-long event, attended by over sixty world dignitaries, was estimated to be around $500 million. Average Iranians not only had little freedom, they had little food. This, along with a host of other things (including torture, killings and general oppression) build up the resentment that eventually led to the downfall of the Shah's regime in 1979.
We have something similar in Washington. President Trump wants to build a ballroom in the White House, as well as adding to the West Wing. The costs for these endeavors are expected to be about $400 million! All the while, the same president has demanded the homeless of Washington, D.C. to be removed (in Aug.2025) in order to make the District Of Columbia "safe and beautiful".
What can we do?
It is fortunate that in an American context there is still some significant measure of freedom within the political culture. Citizens can and should exercise their political rights, such as engaging in voting, all the while, we have to learn not to be so dependent on governments nor corporations. For all the above issues, the solutions can be summarized as follows.
(1) Be educated : Try to do a little bit more research on important topics. Reading physical books as opposed to dependence on websites.
(2) Strengthen your connection to a healthy family and community; These are the real social security nets, more dependable than those at the whims of government and corporations.
(3) Where possible, share accurate information with open minded individuals. This is particularly relevant to Muslims when presenting Islam. The religion of Islam has been deliberately misrepresented by the same forces we have discussed within this article. They use all manner of false propaganda. Thus, sharing accurate information on Islam is not only an issue of social survival, it is also a religious obligation ( Q 16:125).
(4) Be cognizant of safety concerns.
(5) Strengthen your financial freedom and movement security. This means having a marketable skill set, good social ties, discipline in spending and keeping a valid passport.
