Don Hank
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I spent my Junior year abroad (1963-4) in Marburg, Germany, studying Germanistik at the Philipps-Universität Marburg.
That year, Spiegel Magazine ran a series on the Third Reich and its persecution of the Jews. It was all well documented and it focused me specifically on Hitler’s regime and more generally sensitized me to ultra-right (esp. Nazi) regimes. To be precise, this and later experiences in Russia alerted me to the symptoms of fascism/Nazism in my American homeland.
I was struck by the similarity between the political slogans of America as the “indispensable country” and the “exceptional country” on the one hand and the slogan “Deutschland über alles” (Germany above [or over] all) on the other. I could see no major difference between the message conveyed by these slogans, each of which simply conveyed the idea that people considered their own country superior and hence entitled to rule over the rest of the world. The Zionist notion of the chosen people was right in line with these nationalist expressions.
Later, I began to focus on Russia, studying the Russian language and peripherally learning about the Nazi invasion of that country. As part of this study, I signed up for a summer program in Leningrad (now Petersburg – Sankt-Peterburg). One of the first things that struck me were small sidewalk displays with texts explaining the horrors of the siege of Leningrad by the German Nazis, which caused thousands of deaths by exposure to cold and starvation.
It was plain as day to me that all rightwing regimes that taught or suggested to a people or nation that they were entitled to other people’s stuff or to impose their own political views on other people – eg, by regime change operations or invasions and occupation – were extremely dangerous and inevitably accompanied by atrocities and murder.
But as a corollary to this, these regimes inevitably fail because of the backlash against these same atrocities and murder.
The people who make decisions about war and regime change in Washington – primarily the lawmakers, White House officials, Pentagon and State Department – are almost all believers in the doctrine of the indispensable or exceptional nation, and to them, this special status they have assigned themselves, entitles them to deny other countries their own sovereignty, subjugating them to the US and its policies and view of the world.
These people, sometimes called the Deep State, are able to convince gullible Americans of US superiority as well, and this makes Joe Sixpack an unwitting co-conspirator and accomplice to US war crimes. In the era of the now-discredited GW Bush, Americans were exposed 24/7 to anti-Saddam propaganda from various sources. I remember hearing horror stories about Saddam Hussein and being persuaded that this Iraqi leader was the epitome of evil. But we weren’t smart enough – myself included – to figure out that even if Saddam had been the devil personified, this did not entitle the US to kill his people in invasions and occupation. It didn’t occur to us – including to me at the time – that the soldiers we shot in battles at that time were just regular people defending their country in the same way and for the same reason, as the invaded Europeans and Russians were defending against Hitler in the 30s and 40s.
Ironically, we were being brainwashed in the same way the Germans were brainwashed into believing Germany actually had the right to rule the world. Because that is what “Deutschland über alles” had taught them in a song they had sung countless times since kindergarten. How could that be wrong?
I remember the awful years of the Vietnam war and how dissidents (like me) were abused by many of their fellow Americans.
Yet no one talks about this now. America was hysterically against anyone who questioned the vital importance of invading, bombing and killing countless Vietnamese. The churches glorified the killers. On Sundays, prayers went up from pulpits all over America asking the Lord to bless the men in uniform and save us from the “scourge of godless communism.” Evangelicals everywhere were taught in this way to believe that by shooting and bombing the Vietnamese farmers, by showering napalm on their humble huts and burning their children alive, we were doing God’s will. Few doubted that this was a sacred mission. We are revisiting this horror now in our blind loyalty to the genocidal Israel, and religion is again the bedrock of the error.
And this was propped up by the notion of ourselves as indispensable and exceptional. “Amerika über alles.”
Yet we slowly, in the years that followed, came to understand, as a nation, that we had been duped, but instead of facing the music and apologizing to Vietnam for destroying their country, we simply moved on to confront the next imaginary enemy.
The current regime, with its pretext du jour, proves that we never learned our lesson, and after the cavalcade of failed wars in the almost 80 years since WW II, it seems to me that America most likely, for whatever reason, is completely incapable of owning up to its mistakes.
Our indoctrinated populace has never stopped believing in the America that needs to save the world despite the overwhelming evidence that suggests the world desperately needs to be saved from America.
Dyed-in-the-wool MAGA fanatics believe that Trump was chosen by God to save America. I regularly visit the Facebook site of a group of these people. On one occasion, I read messages by MAGA freaks praising Trump for all his wonderful achievements. Even though his poll numbers were at an all-time low, showing that the majority of Americans had wised up. Needless to say, these demented souls never even try to specify what these achievements are or cite examples.
To test the faith of the faithful, I asked on their forum “is God an American?”
A lady piped up immediately: Absolutely!
**
DON'S DISPATCHES ARE USUALLY DOSSIERS CONTAINING SEVERAL SEPARATE ITEMS. BELOW, SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF PRESSING INTEREST.
• Ben Norton on the new ultra-right president of Chile:
Why did a Nazi-linked ally of USA & Israel win Chile's presidential election?
Dec 15, 2025
Javier Milei is making Argentina a resource colony:
• Javier Milei is destroying Argentina's eco...
Why Trump is meddling in Honduras: • Why did Trump free one of the world's wors...
• Scott Ritter on Orangebeard’s piracy
•Max Blumenthal: Venezuela Invasion - A Predictable Disaster
• Big Lie of dismantling Hezbollah in Lebanon
Translation from Arabic with my notes in bold and in [brackets] https://alkhanadeq.com/post/9850/تدمر-تكشف-الوهم-السيادة-المؤجلة-تحت-حراب-واشنطن-وفوضى-داعش
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 04:37
General Tamir Hayman: The Big Lie Called Dismantling Hezbollah in Lebanon
Hezbollah Supporters
The N12 website published an article, translated by the Al-Khanadeq website, by Major General (Res.) Tamir Hayman, former head of Israeli Military Intelligence (Aman) and commander of the Northern Command. He currently heads the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).
Translated Text [since this text is from an Israeli site, the bias is obvious]:
The US Declares, Iran Acts: The Gap in Lebanon is Dangerous
What is really happening now in Lebanon, and how can the escalation of Israeli military strikes there be explained? We will try to piece together the picture and understand the trends that constitute the “Lebanese enigma.”
First, the Lebanese leadership is indeed presenting a historic opportunity for Israel. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are indeed historic figures; they are the first to openly declare their desire to disarm Hezbollah [this would, of course, be suicide for Lebanon, but Aoun is a “Christian” and is pro-American – hence a traitor to his people]. They are urging the Lebanese army to present a practical plan for implementation. This is largely due to Hezbollah’s weakened state as a result of the Israeli army’s achievements.
However, this desire is overshadowed by a real threat to Lebanon’s existence: a very serious threat that dictates all state activities—namely, the risk of civil war. The historical trauma that devastated Lebanon, and the tragedy whose recurrence is merely a possibility, deters any action. Therefore, we see striking statements and a complete lack of action on the ground. Any contact with Hezbollah is viewed as a strategic threat. Yes, there is a plan to dismantle Hezbollah, but it has never been approved by the Lebanese government. Yes, there are statements—but no real clashes with Hezbollah on the ground. [Remember that Hezbollah saved Lebanon in 2006 by defeating Israel in war. This is why I say that it would be suicide to disarm it – particularly since the official army will never fight Israel]
Israeli Army Strikes in Lebanon
Raids Alone Will Not Prevent Hezbollah’s Growth
The second angle is Iran and Hezbollah. From Iran’s perspective, Hezbollah’s setbacks are merely a springboard for rebuilding it in a better form; there is absolutely no intention of abandoning the organization. The fact that Syria is no longer the land bridge to Lebanon, and that—from Iran’s perspective—there is a hostile regime there, is a challenge that must be addressed. However, Syria is not an insurmountable obstacle. Hezbollah, at its core, is a resistance organization; its very purpose is conflict. The idea that it can survive without weapons is an inherent contradiction—an impossible paradox. Therefore, Iran is undertaking a rehabilitation and reconstruction effort. The first steps already being taken are the transfer of funds, the payment of salaries, and attempts to rebuild Hezbollah’s infrastructure on the ground. [Iran has vowed to keep up its support for Hezbollah]
The American Perspective: According to Trump, peace between Israel and Lebanon is possible. In his view, UNIFIL (the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) is a waste of money and will therefore be dissolved. The United States will become directly involved in dismantling Hezbollah, but without deploying ground troops. From Trump’s perspective, positive statements from the Lebanese president are sufficient to declare a major achievement. Herein lies the danger [danger ONLY for Israel]: America makes pronouncements without taking action, while Iran acts without words.
From Israel’s perspective, a “decisive victory” has been achieved in Lebanon, and the major threat has been eliminated. The status quo—improving the protection of northern towns while continuing to prevent Hezbollah’s resurgence—is sufficient at this stage. There is neither the desire nor the urgency to advance further diplomatically. The problem is that this aligns perfectly with the Iranian timetable; they, too, need time, and we shouldn’t delude ourselves into thinking that sporadic strikes will prevent the growth of a terrorist army [ Israel and the US insist that Hezbollah is a terror group. The brutal truth is that ONLY Israel and the US are terrorists]. We’ve learned before that this doesn’t work.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s Steps to Curb Hezbollah
Fear of Civil War Paralyzes the Government—Lebanon Needs Assistance
In conclusion: Without concrete action, time will pass, and the “Lebanese lie” will crumble before reality. The old system will return, where Hezbollah is armed but doesn’t bring down the Lebanese government, and the various sects live in a balance based on “under-the-table” arrangements, in the absence of a functioning government. This “system” will revert to being the lie that governs Lebanon, and the historic opportunity to change the reality will be lost forever.
So what should be done? [All of these suggestions will only benefit the genocidal Israeli state, NOT Lebanon]
Second: The momentum of Trump should be capitalized on, and concrete steps should be demanded. To begin with, the local Quds Force commander, Tabatabai [since assassinated by Israel], should be expelled from Lebanon. He is securely based in Beirut and is rebuilding Hezbollah.
Next, the Lebanese army should be encouraged to engage Hezbollah. Even limited engagements will enhance the standing, dignity, and authority of the Lebanese army and government.
Finally, as long as the situation remains unchanged, Israeli military strikes should continue—but they must not be viewed as the solution. If the Lebanese army is not compelled to confront Hezbollah, nothing will change. Israel’s long-term strategy must be different.
These strikes are merely a temporary measure in the absence of a comprehensive US-Israeli policy. We must not delude ourselves into thinking they will prevent Hezbollah from regaining strength. Much is likely happening right under our noses, beyond our ability to enforce. Only a political vision that complements the IDF’s strong military performance, in partnership with the United States, can produce a stable, long-term security reality.
Source: Channel 12 • Author: Editorial Staff • Translation from Arabic with my notes in bold and in [brackets]
• Palmyra Exposes the Illusion: Postponed Sovereignty Under Washington’s Batteries and ISIS Chaos
A Burning Tank in the Syrian Desert
The Palmyra incident on Saturday, December 13, 2025, in which three Americans were killed, confirms that Syria will remain hostage to the chaos in which local, regional, and international factors intertwine. The steps taken by the interim authority, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa al-Julani, to align itself with the United States and pledge allegiance to it will not bring prosperity to the country at all!
As for America, it does not wish to withdraw from the resource-rich country of oil, gas, and minerals. Its presence in this strategic crossroads in West Asia is crucial for several key objectives: protecting Israel, confronting the resistance axis, and ensuring its hegemony in all its forms over the countries of the region. Therefore, it is not unlikely that it will resort to activating the ISIS terrorist organization to justify its military presence in Syria.
From the perspective of the interim entity, it is in its interest to maintain the controlled security and military chaos in Syria, and even to escalate this chaos both quantitatively and qualitatively, in order to preserve its strategic interests, particularly retaining the territory it seized after the fall of President Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024.
In a related context, the ISIS operation in Palmyra confirms that the authority of the al-Julani faction is not as it is portrayed in the media. It is not absolute, neither over the geographical area where its forces are deployed, nor over its forces themselves. The attack was carried out by a security operative affiliated with it, and it occurred while American soldiers were meeting with a key Syrian commander involved in operations against ISIS.
According to a statement issued by the Syrian Interior Ministry on Sunday, December 14, 2025, five people were arrested on suspicion of “involvement in the shooting of American and Syrian soldiers in the city of Palmyra in central Syria on Saturday,” which resulted in “the deaths of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter at the hands of an attacker who targeted a convoy of US and Syrian forces before being killed by police.” The statement revealed that the perpetrator of the shooting was “a member of the Syrian security forces suspected of sympathizing with the Islamic State,” claiming that they had assessed the attacker days before the attack and concluded that he might hold extremist views, and that they had ordered his dismissal on Sunday (the day after the attack)!
The Interior Ministry of the al-Julani faction also announced that its units in Palmyra carried out an operation in coordination with “the International Coalition forces,” resulting in the arrest of five suspects, who were immediately transferred for interrogation. But what the Interior Ministry of the Syrian regime, led by al-Julani, did not deny in its statement was that America had carried out several airstrikes and ground operations in Syria, targeting those it described as suspected ISIS members in recent months, and that many of these operations had been conducted “with the participation of Syrian security forces.” This demonstrates the extent of American security violations in the country and the degree of leniency shown by the Syrian regime towards American forces, a situation that will undoubtedly contribute to an escalation of its war with its former organization, ISIS.
Al-Shaibani Reaffirms Allegiance to America
On Sunday, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani quickly contacted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the details of the attack, offer his condolences, and reaffirm “the Syrian government’s commitment to undermining and destroying the common threat of ISIS.”
As for US President Donald Trump, he declared, threateningly: “I can assure you that whoever carried out this attack in Syria will suffer severe consequences. They have captured the individual... but there will be severe consequences.” He added, “This was an ISIS attack on the United States and Syria, in a very dangerous area of Syria that is not under their complete control. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is furious and extremely upset by this attack. There will be a very harsh response.”
What happened in Palmyra is not an isolated security incident, but rather a revealing moment about the path Syria is being pushed down today: diminished authority, suspended sovereignty, and American intervention operating freely under the pretext of fighting ISIS, while chaos is being managed as a tool of influence, not a passing phenomenon. The rapprochement with Washington has not produced stability; rather, it has deepened the vulnerability of the country, revived deadly contradictions within the security apparatus itself, and opened the door to an escalation that will not be the end of the road. Between “controlled” chaos that serves the interests of the occupation and a fragile security reality, Syria today seems further than ever from salvation and closer than ever to a recycling of the crisis with new tools and old slogans.
Author: Editorial Room
**
An Analysis of Turkey’s Rapprochement with Iran and its Distance from Israel
Translation from Arabic with my notes in bold and in [brackets] • https://alkhanadeq.com/post/9847/قراءة-في-التقارب-التركي-مع-إيران-والتباعد-عن-الكيان
Monday, December 15, 2025, 3:28 AM
As for Turkey’s distancing from Israel, it is linked to the Gaza issue, popular pressure, disagreements over regional influence, and the Kurdish issue, in addition to the Syrian arena, which some experts consider the strongest determining factor. Experts agree that this distancing does not amount to a complete break, but it has a significant impact on Syria and regional security issues.
Regarding the outcomes of the rapprochement, everyone agrees that it is pragmatic and functional in nature and does not rise to the level of a strategic alliance, with varying impacts in Syria, where it contributes to consolidating areas of influence and exerting pressure on the SDF, and in Lebanon, where it affects Islamist forces and regional power relations.
Regarding the American response, opinions agree that it is twofold: symbolic or military-economic pressure on one hand, and maintaining Turkey within the sphere of influence on the other. Washington is banking on managing a balance between Turkey and Israel to ensure stability in the Syrian arena and prevent the erosion of its influence in the region.
The survey results show that experts agree on the general framework of the Turkish-Iranian rapprochement in the following aspects:
- Within the context of security and economic interests, the Israeli threat, and the Syrian arena.
- The connection of Turkey’s distancing from Israel to a range of issues: Gaza, Syria, national security, and public pressure.
- The pragmatic and unstable nature of the results.
- The calculated and balanced duality of the American response.
However, opinions differ on identifying the most important factor and on expectations regarding the depth and duration of the rapprochement or distancing.
**
• “Keep your fingers crossed and pray”: Good and bad news from the SMO zone. The mystery of Kupyansk. Unprecedented footage from Odessa. Russians declare retaliation.
Translation with my notes in bold and in [brackets] https://tsargrad.tv/articles/derzhim-kulaki-i-molimsja-horoshie-i-plohie-vesti-iz-zony-svo-tajna-kupjanska-besprecedentnye-kadry-iz-odessy-russkie-zajavili-o-vozmezdii_1482559
Ekaterina Panfilova
The situation in the special military operation zone remains tense. The mystery of Kupyansk raises increasing questions, while both good and bad news have emerged from the SMO zone. Odessans have shown unprecedented footage. Russians have declared retaliation.
“The situation is rapidly deteriorating.”
The situation for the Russian Armed Forces in the western part of Kupyansk continues to rapidly deteriorate. Military expert Yuriy Podolyaka reported this on his Telegram channel. According to him, Ukrainian Armed Forces militants are attacking with units from several Ukrainian Army brigades, two of which have been redeployed here from other sectors of the front, as well as two assault regiments and special forces units from the Special Operations Forces and Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, continuing to push back Russian fighters from the south and north. The expert clarifies that they have taken control of several more districts of the city, as well as the village of Moskovka.
Units of our 68th Division are fighting desperately. But the enemy’s superiority in forces, as well as our already obvious logistical problems, are having an impact, Podolyaka notes.
According to the expert, the fact that, due to the loss of some city districts, Russian drone operators have been forced to withdraw largely to the left bank of the Oskol River is also having a significant impact, “which significantly increases their flight range and simplifies the enemy’s logistics situation.”
We’re keeping our fingers crossed and praying for the guys, he concluded.
In turn, analysts from Voyennaya Khronika [Military Chronicle] are also raising the “mystery” of Kupyansk, noting that the situation in the city raises increasing questions, with almost no answers. According to experts, the Ukrainian side is trying to exaggerate any success not on the ground, but in the media. And here, Kyiv has a simple goal, the essence of which has remained unchanged for years: to demonstrate that Russia has no control over the city at all. Even if there are no real mechanisms for achieving this goal.
Meanwhile, due to the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, having deployed a significant number of reserves to attack Kupyansk, Russian units are currently in no mood for filming and refutations. Right now, it’s more important to repel counterattacks, which, as we previously predicted, will surpass the actions of Ukrainian generals and the Main Intelligence Directorate in Pokrovsk in terms of the level of frenzy, planning, and mass slaughter of infantry, analysts believe.
They note that, at the same time, the outright fake information about the situation in Kupyansk, disseminated by Ukrainian media, is often “dragged” by Russian bloggers.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces regularly issue reports of alleged large-scale mechanized attacks from Sobolevka and Blagodatovka in western Kupyansk. At the same time, the direction of operations from the northwestern outskirts near Moskovska and Radkovka is strictly limited geographically, although somewhat numerically dense on the part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and from the direction of Osinovo and Boldyrevka, it is limited to only a few attempts by individual groups, which are quickly destroyed. Active combat continues nearby. In the Kurilovka/Kupyansk-Uzlovaya area, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are clinging to their positions and have to be dislodged by both targeted drone strikes and massive artillery shelling, the report states.
At the same time, analysts acknowledge that calling the situation in Kupyansk simple for Russia would be inaccurate. However, talk of breakthroughs and Ukrainian Armed Forces entering most of the city, they say, is also untrue.
There are no dramatic successes of that magnitude there. Heavy positional battles are underway. As we stated earlier, the Russian army has not yet fully spoken in this area, and due to the abundance of combat operations and uncertainty about information from this area, we will have to live with it for some time to come, the experts noted.
The road to Slavyansk is opening.
However, it’s not only alarming news coming from the front—significant achievements are also being reported. According to Yuriy Podolyaka, having abandoned Seversk, the enemy was unable to organize a defense on the heights west of the city. Ultimately, they were driven from the chalk quarry and pushed back from Svyato-Pokrovskoe to Reznikovka, where fighting had already begun. And that’s good news:
The fact that we secured Reznikovka (having literally stormed into it on the backs of the retreating forces) is extremely important. Here, along the Sukha River valley, we can, relying on the residential areas of Reznikovka and Kaleniki (which run here almost continuously and can be used as a base for an offensive), reach Rai-Aleksandrovka itself. A key logistics hub on the route to Slavyansk. Having liberated it and relying on it, we can then advance on this symbolic city for us all, Podolyaka explained.
Meanwhile, unprecedented footage continues to emerge from the Odessa sector following the recent, largest-ever attack on the region. According to local media, Odessa is almost completely without power. As Politika Strany reports, city residents are cooking with welding machines and candles, going to supermarkets to recharge their batteries, and sitting in restaurants to the sounds of strikes. Footage never seen before from Odessa shows people hanging groceries out of windows (instead of refrigerators), and drivers loading charging stations into their cars so they can charge from the engine.
However, Ukrainian media are, of course, prohibited from mentioning that military-oriented businesses in the region have also stopped operating. Some are unable to restart due to the lack of power, while others have been razed to the ground by successful precision strikes. However, it’s too early to say that the military in the Odesa region and the city of Odesa itself is 100% paralyzed.
“Thank” the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Unfortunately, bad news is also coming from Russia’s seemingly rear areas. Last night, several regions of our country were subjected to a massive attack by Ukrainian drones – primarily in the south, as well as in Moscow and the surrounding region. The planned massive raid was known in advance. Russian intelligence reported the previous evening, around 10:00 PM, that the enemy was planning a massive drone attack from four directions.
Specifically, the enemy is planning an attack on the central regions, especially Moscow, the Moscow region, and the south of the country. We would like to draw the special attention of our subscribers to the fact that commentators who publicly disclose what and where explosions occur, where air defense systems operate, and at what location the air defense systems shoot down a drone at what moment, will be mercilessly banned without the right to amnesty. Everything will be fine with us. We certainly can’t vouch for [the Ukrainian Armed Forces], the authors of the NGP RaZVedka channel reported.
Moreover, after the launches, the launch sites were identified, and intelligence agents hinted that a retaliatory strike was imminent.
The majority of the launches took place in the Krasnograd district of the Kharkiv region, near the border with the Poltava region. Residents of this location know who to thank for what’s to come. If you have any complaints about destruction, you can contact the Ukrainian Armed Forces directly, the channel’s authors emphasized.
BEFORE you leave, PLEASE pay attention to this alert.
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