In 390 BC—or 387, depending on which ancient chronology you accept—a Gallic war-band under a chieftain named Brennus broke the Roman army at the Allia, a small tributary of the Tiber about eleven miles north of the city. The rout was total. What survived of the Roman field force fled to Veii. Rome itself was essentially undefended, and the Gauls walked in. For months they held … [Read more...] about Woe to the Vanquished: Iran Still Does Not Get It
U.S. Treasury Sanctions 20 Companies and 19 Vessels in Iran-Related Action, Targeting Chinese Refinery
The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed Iran-related sanctions on 20 companies and 19 vessels, including oil and gas tankers, in a move that extends Washington's pressure campaign against Tehran's energy revenues. Among the newly listed entities is Hengli Petrochemical Dalian Refinery, a Chinese refinery, marking another instance of the United States targeting a major Chinese … [Read more...] about U.S. Treasury Sanctions 20 Companies and 19 Vessels in Iran-Related Action, Targeting Chinese Refinery
Iran Will Sign Anything — And That’s Exactly the Problem
John Bolton is not a popular figure in diplomatic circles. He is too blunt, too hawkish, too willing to say what career foreign policy hands prefer to leave unsaid. But on Iran, he is right — and the evidence of four decades supports him. Iran will sign anything to get the U.S. out of the region. And once we are gone, they will start rebuilding their nuclear program. This is … [Read more...] about Iran Will Sign Anything — And That’s Exactly the Problem
The Meme War America Didn’t See Coming
The videos keep coming. Lego-fied caricatures of Trump and Netanyahu. Gangster rap soundtracking White House mockery. An 80s French pop ballad reborn as a Strait of Hormuz taunt. They rack up millions of views on X, get shared by people who wouldn't know a Revolutionary Guard from a road sign, and land with the casual virality of a celebrity beef. Behind them: a government that … [Read more...] about The Meme War America Didn’t See Coming
Rama Dawaji: A Late Apology and the Question of Timing
The apology from Rama Dawaji arrives with all the expected language—shame, reflection, acknowledgment of harm. On paper, it checks every box. She now says she understands the pain caused by her past behavior, including liking posts tied to the October 7 attacks by Hamas and using deeply offensive racial language. The phrasing is careful, deliberate, almost rehearsed. But that’s … [Read more...] about Rama Dawaji: A Late Apology and the Question of Timing