War and Peace
Armed conflicts, defense, military technology and the price humanity pays for peace.
The Villain Didn't Want It Either
Trump threatened to destroy all of Iran's civilian infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by tonight's deadline. His words — "a whole civilization will die tonight" — are the perfect villain's monologue from the very films Hollywood used to teach the world who the bad guys are. The script, it turns out, was never about nations. It was always about lines.
The Pilot Worth More Than the Deal
When Trump's ultimatum to Iran expired with no result, a heroic rescue gave the president the exit he needed without looking weak. The pilot was real; the political use of his story, equally so. M. Casamata on the hero as a tool of diplomatic timeline management.
Who's Protecting Whom
Ukraine — the country Trump spent months trying to negotiate out of the picture — has become the world's foremost expert in drone countermeasures and is now protecting American soldiers in the Gulf from Iranian drones supplied by Russia. A geopolitical reversal nobody predicted, with consequences for NATO, European autonomy, and the architecture of Western security.
He Said It Would Be Quick
Trump walked away from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. Seven years later, he's at war with the consequences of that decision. The promised "quick deal" became a military campaign with no end in sight — and the global architecture built to contain nuclear proliferation quietly crumbles in the background.
The Hatred That Awaits the End of the World
Iran and Israel were once close allies — they traded oil together and co-developed missiles in secret projects. The 1979 Revolution transformed that partnership into existential hatred, fueled by an apocalyptic theology that sees Israel's destruction as a prerequisite for the coming of the Mahdi, the Shia messiah. Understanding this war requires looking beyond geopolitics.
The Day the World Held Its Breath
The US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, killing Ayatollah Khamenei and the country's entire senior military leadership. Iran retaliated with missiles against Israel and American bases across six countries. Schools were hit, cities shook, and the Middle East entered open war. We are only on Day One.
Easily Won
Trump said a war with Iran would be "easily won." His own Joint Chiefs chairman disagrees, satellite images show both sides arming up at an alarming pace, and history reminds us that Bush said "mission accomplished" in 2003 — then the mission lasted two more decades.