James Carleton

I'm chuffed to learn my book "The Wit of Whitlam" is @MUPublishing's 14th bestseller since 2012. bit.ly/2tCsxOV theaustralian.com.au/arts/books/wha…

"No Israel prosecutions for killing Palestinian civilians in occupied West Bank since start of decade Dozens of former Israeli military, police and spy chiefs describe situation as ‘organised Jewish terrorism’" theguardian.com/world/2026/mar…

As of March 2026, some 9,446 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons; 4,691 of them are under administrative detention, imprisoned without charge, trial, or the ability to defend themselves. Even during the illegal and deadly Israeli-American attack on Iran, Israel continues to operate a network of torture camps for Palestinian prisoners from north to south, where they are subjected to systematic abuse, including physical and psychological violence, inhuman conditions, starvation and denial of medical treatment. 84 identified Palestinians, including one minor, have died in Israeli torture camps over the last two years, and there is grave concern that the real number is higher. This policy persists with the full support of Israel’s political establishment, judicial system, prison authorities and media. The Israel Prison Service and the Minister for National Security have publicly bragged about the harsh conditions imposed on Palestinian prisoners. These torture camps are part of the planned, extensive assault Israel is waging against Palestinian society, intended to break down and destroy Palestinians as a group. Link to our report “Living Hell” >> btselem.org/publications/2…

The Israeli government has displaced a total of 6 million people from their homes. (3 million Iran, 2 million Gaza, 1 million Lebanon). 6 million people. The equivalent of the entire population of Maryland displaced from their homes. By one government.

The U.S. deploying 3 more warships and roughly 2,500 more Marines to the Middle East, official says. apnews.com/article/iran-i…

After nearly 100 years, CBS News Radio is being dissolved, per a note from Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski to CBS staff today

#Syria's Foreign Ministry condemns #Israel's strikes in #Daraa earlier today, describing them as "a continuation of its policy of interference in internal affairs with the aim of destabilizing security & stability in the region" based on "flimsy pretexts & fabricated excuses."

If the primary lasting impact of this war is that Supreme Leader Khamenei is 30 years younger and Iran retains control of the Hormuz Strait, this would have been one of the most amazing foreign policy blunders of the last few presidencies, certainly of this century.

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby. It has been an honor serving under @POTUS and @DNIGabbard and leading the professionals at NCTC. May God bless America.

Iran is more powerful now than before the war — it controls the price of world oil and more likely to fracture the US coalition than US is to grow it. Stunning gains in 17 days

Antisemitic narratives have surged across Chinese media and online discourse, a striking development in a country long viewed as largely free of traditional anti-Jewish hostility. Shahar Burla reports on new JPPI research charting the shift. Full piece here: thejewishindependent.com.au/antisemitism-c…

As a Palestinian father struggled to save one son, a uniformed settler shot his other son, too haaretz.com/israel-news/tw…

Pahlavi used to defend the IRGC:

I write in @FT that Iran is playing the long game. In war, geography matters as much as technology. Iran commands the entire northern shore of the Gulf, looming large over energy fields on its southern shore and all that passes through its waters. Its Houthi allies are perched at the entrance to the Red Sea and along the passage to the Suez Canal; Iran is thus perfectly positioned to squeeze the global economy from both sides of the Arabian Peninsula. Those in command of Iran today are veterans of asymmetric wars in Iraq and Syria. They are now applying the same strategy to fighting the US on the battlefield of the global economy. Drones, short-range missiles and mines setting tankers and ports on fire can have the same effect IEDs had in Iraq, only with greater impact — disrupting global supply chains and sending oil prices higher. Iran could sustain its counteroffensive more easily and for far longer. Furthermore, a ceasefire alone will not lift the shadow of risk that Iran has imposed over the Gulf, which is now experiencing its nightmare scenario. That is why Iranian leaders are saying they will not accept a ceasefire until Washington fully grasps the global economic cost of waging this war. Businesses, investors and tourists may not return to the Gulf states if they assume that war could resume again. Unless the US is prepared to invade Iran to remove the Islamic republic’s leaders and then stay there to ensure stability and security, confidence in the Gulf will only return if the US and Iran arrive at a durable ceasefire. Iran says it will only accept a ceasefire with international guarantees for its sovereignty, which would probably mean a direct role for Russia and China. It may also demand compensation for war damages and a verifiable ceasefire in Lebanon. The US would then have to agree to some form of the nuclear deal it left on the table in Geneva in February and commit to lifting sanctions. Iran’s leaders entered this war with the goal of ensuring it will be the last one. Either it breaks them or radically changes the country’s circumstances. They are betting on surviving long enough and squeezing the global economy hard enough to realise that goal. Read full article ft.com/content/93b7b6…

The trivialization and gamification of war is grotesque. If humanity has much history left, this one social media post will be an incredibly valuable artifact for understanding our times. It is revealing on so many levels, not just about our government, but us as a people.

"Right now, the Gulf is spending $28 in defense for every $1 Iran spends on offense. You don’t need to kill soldiers to wage war... You can drain your enemy’s money. Rattle his population. Make investors hesitate." @CIA veteran Jonny Gannon: argonaut71.substack.com/p/a-new-age-of…

BREAKING: Nearly 780,000 displaced in Lebanon since Israeli attacks began 🔴 LIVE updates: aje.news/apjw94?update=…

This stadium in Lebanon has been turned into a temporary shelter for those forcibly displaced by Israeli attacks against Hezbollah. The UN says nearly 700,000 people have fled their homes across the country. Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith reports from Beirut.

#Morgan ALP 26.5 L-NP 22.5 ON 23.5 Green 14.5 others 13 2PP respondent 54.5 to ALP (-1.5) last election 53 to ALP (-0.5) my conversion 52.5 to ALP (-0.7) roymorgan.com/findings/10151…

.@PeterBeinart says American Jewish leadership is returning to the ancient and futile Jewish defence against antisemitism: "The court Jew clinging to the authoritarian leader [Trump] as the public turns more and more anti Jewish." Very dangerous times peterbeinart.substack.com/p/the-danger-t…

CEO of @ECAJewry @AlexRyvchin says removal of Iranian regime will result in a “curtailment in antisemitic activity”. @PeterBeinart says it will make it much worse. peterbeinart.substack.com/p/the-danger-t… theaustralian.com.au/nation/iran-re…