Stop the Idiocracy: Lebanon

Showing posts with label Lebanon. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Paradise before the flames

A sumptuous fantasy illustration of a dark-haired Middle Eastern woman standing barefoot in an opulent palace chamber, her arms wrapped tightly around herself in a gesture of fear and vulnerability. She wears ornate rose-coloured jewellery and matching briefs, while long crimson, violet, and sapphire silks stream dramatically around her. The richly decorated room is filled with embroidered cushions, gilded vessels, incense, and intricate Persian carpets beneath a mural depicting a phoenix confronting a dragon. Beyond an elaborate arched window lies a magnificent city of domes, minarets, and distant mountains, where a hooded falcon and a red-crowned crane stand tethered by delicate crimson cords. The contrast between the lavish surroundings and the woman's distressed expression evokes themes of captivity, uncertainty, and fragile resilience.

image generated via ChatGPT

At what point do we officially consider this a wider Middle Eastern war? Conflagration: US and Saudi fighter jets target Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, while the Iranians attack a US base in Jordan. {NYT 29 July}

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/28/world/iran-us-strikes-iraq-trump?unlocked_article_code=1.1VA._45q.S7aIn9qmA8k9&smid=url-share

FTA: The scope of the war in the Middle East widened on Wednesday, as American and Saudi fighter jets attacked Iran-allied militias in Iraq, Iran fired missiles at bases in Jordan used by U.S. forces, and an American-owned tanker in an Egyptian port was set on fire in an apparent drone strike.

The spate of attacks ended a pause in direct fighting between the United States and Iran. Since the collapse of a cease-fire between the United States and Iran this month, Iran-linked groups across the region have opened new fronts and reopened old ones, embroiling forces in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the war that until recently had been contained to countries along the Persian Gulf.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Strait of Hormuz: where the world holds its breath

A dramatic digital illustration of a young woman swimming through the waters of the Strait of Hormuz at sunset. Seen from a low, water-level perspective, she stretcheth one arm forward while glancing back over her shoulder, her long dark hair trailing behind across the sea. Turquoise water is lit by warm golden light; waves catch reflections from the setting sun. In the background, several large oil tankers and cargo vessels transit the narrow waterway between rocky coastlines. Naval warships flank the shipping lane, including a vessel flying the Iranian flag—geopolitical tension and maritime uncertainty. The glowing sky holdeth dramatic clouds and orange sunlight, contrasting with darker blue water. Human vulnerability, international commerce, military presence, and natural beauty—risk, endurance, global trade, and a critical maritime chokepoint.

generated via ChatGPT

And the Strait of Hormuz is closed yet again: Iran shuts the vital waterway after Israel strikes Lebanon. {NBC News 20 June}

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/israel-continues-lebanon-strikes-fresh-ceasefire-rcna350952

No lasting ‘peace’ is forthcoming. None — not with the likes of Trump, Netanyahu, and the Islamist regime of Iran as the principal parties to the conflict.

And even after the former two are gone (which is not going to be for a long while, at least in Trump's case, and Bibi hath proven himself Teflon over and over), the latter shall very likely remain in perpetuity. Certain portions of the Iranian people have risen up their rulers, and have been thoroughly decimated in the process. Israel and Iran will be locked in conflict for generations, while the former United States will be left with no choice but to go home with its tail between its legs. For, we simply cannot afford this war, on any level. Dare I say, we cannot afford Donald J. Trump anymore, either. The most inept buffoon on the bloody planet, and may literally be the death of us all.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Friday, June 19, 2026

Self-inflicted wounds, and death by a thousand cuts: the #MAGA endgame

A dramatic dystopian illustration of a devastated landscape at sunset beneath a turbulent orange sky. Centre distance, an enormous mushroom cloud riseth in the shape of a clenched fist—destruction, anger, catastrophic consequence. Foreground, a tattered American flag lieth abandoned in the dust beside a weathered red cap bearing “MAGA.” The barren terrain is strewn with debris. Left, a lone oil pumpjack amid industrial wreckage; a convoy of military vehicles stretcheth across the wasteland. Right, a futuristic skyline of gleaming skyscrapers remaineth intact across water—technological progress against devastation. Apocalyptic symbolism, political imagery, and cinematic lighting evoke nationalism, fossil-fuel dependence, militarisation, extremism, decline, and the perceived consequences of ideological failure.

generated via ChatGPT

Friday, 19 June 2026 (Happy Juneteenth), and nobody seems to know what the hell is going on. Is Trump’s ‘deal’ with Iran — or capitulation to Iran — to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz on or off? Israel and Hezbollah have signed another truce, maybe, possibly?

This is one sick, tragic joke, and these Middle Easterners are going to be killing each other for the rest of time in spite of any efforts to stop it.

Here we have this US president and his entire cult following bellowing about putting ‘America First’, but this sure as hell is not it. Isolationists are going to get a major boost out of this, because what the hell is America doing in the Middle East at this point? Israel is going rogue, the Islamists shall never be tamed, and the Saudis and the oil barons will continue buying up everyone and everything.

At this moment, and speaking as one who is hardly an isolationist and believes we must engage with the world, I am thinking that it is bloody useless, and that the former United States ought to retreat from any and all efforts in the Middle East, begin moving away from fossil fuels in earnest, and get serious about fixing its own house.

None of that is happening at this moment, but ‘y’all’ keep pretending this hath always been about putting America ‘first’, when it hath always been about harming all the people and groups in society whom ‘y’all’ do not like. The #MAGA rank-and-file may not be happy about the intervention in Iran, but they shall continue to suffer any indignity so long as they continue to hate the immigrants, and gays/lesbians/trannies, anyone with a brain, so forth.

— Arthur Newhook, 19 June 2026.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Hope across the ruins?

A symbolic fantasy scene of two allegorical women standing on opposite sides of a deep chasm amid a devastated city. The woman on the left weareth flowing garments in Iran’s colours—green and red billowing; the woman on the right is draped in white and blue robes bearing the Star of David. Both extend a hand toward one another across the divide, fingertips nearly touching but not quite meeting. Above, storm clouds part to reveal golden sunlight streaming through the centre, illuminating the gap. Below, shattered ruins stretch toward a distant coastline. White doves with olive branches stand among broken stonework—peace and reconciliation. Conflict, separation, hope, diplomacy, and the possibility of understanding despite profound division.

generated via ChatGPT

The Islamic Republic demands Israel withdraw from Lebanon for a tentative peace deal to take effect. {AP 16 June}

https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-lebanon-oil-june-16-2026-d79458506c46e3f4a78aef0f9d8b9250

The signing ceremony for this ‘peace deal’ is scheduled for Friday in Switzerland. At this hour, I do not believe it is going to happen, as Netanyahu is adamant that the Israelis are not going to withdraw from Lebanon, to say nothing of the schism that hath developed between him and Trump (and, therefore, between America and Israel).

I shall not be surprised if this war is still ongoing a year from now. Or two.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈