Spidly06

🇦🇪🇮🇷 "Any political solution addressing the Iranian aggression against the Arab Gulf states must include clear guarantees to prevent future violations." — UAE President's Advisor, Anwar Gargash, adding "Iran deceived its neighbors about its intentions before the war"

A Russian soldier was guiding Ukrainian missiles onto Russian bases, destroying entire columns of occupying forces’ equipment. He did everything secretly, made contact with the SBU and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and helped without asking for anything in return — having embraced Ukraine’s ideals. He was even inspired by Zelenskyy. At some point, he learned where Russian generals were going to hold a meeting and decided to pass on the coordinates and timing. As a result of the strike, there were heavy casualties, and a number of Russian commanders did not survive. Their identities are still being established. Unfortunately, the Russian soldier was exposed and nearly captured. He was facing a tragic fate, but at the last moment, Ukrainian special forces managed to extract him.

Gary Kasparov at the NATO Public Forum: The liberation of Russia from Putin’s fascism will not start until the Ukrainian flag is raised over Sevastopol. Period. Anything else is wishful thinking. You have to kill the idea of empire in the minds of Russians. They have to understand the war is lost. Ukraine must win. Ukrainian victory includes three things: liberation, reparation, and justice.” The big debate is whether it’s Russia’s war or Putin’s war. Unfortunately, it’s Russia’s war. Every Russian, myself included, has a responsibility for the crimes committed in Ukraine. People who want to leave from Putin’s ‘North Korea’ to our, let’s say, virtual ‘South Korea’ have to say three things in five seconds without stuttering: The war is criminal; The regime is illegitimate; Crimea is Ukraine.

Just had dinner with a friend who works in Gulf diplomacy. Smart guy. 20 years in the region. Something felt off though. He kept circling back to one phrase: "They're not seeing the board." Finally asked what he meant. His response floored me. "Israel bombs Iran's gas field — Iran retaliates by bombing Qatar's gas field. Israel bombs Iran's steel plants — Iran retaliates by bombing UAE's aluminum facility. Every single time, Iran hits a neighbor instead of hitting back at Israel. And nobody in the region is connecting the dots." He'd been watching this pattern for weeks. Iran keeps getting provoked into attacking the very countries it should be allied with. And the coalition that could challenge Israel is tearing itself apart from the inside. Made me think about chess. The best players don't beat you by attacking your king directly. They turn your own pieces against each other. But maybe no one in the region has realized they're the pieces. We're watching one of the most effective divide-and-conquer strategies play out in real time. Classic geopolitics, ancient playbook. Don't get me wrong — every country involved has agency and makes their own decisions. But thinking out loud, if Iran keeps retaliating against Gulf neighbors instead of the country that actually attacked them first… the region is doing Israel's work for them.