➤ The spokesperson for Saraya Awliya al-Dam resistance faction Abu Mahdi al-Jaafari said Washington and NATO asked Baghdad to secure a pause so forces could withdraw.

➤ Most resistance factions agreed, on the condition that Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) positions between Samarra and Karbala are not targeted.

➢ “But if you return [to sin], we will return [to punishment]. And We have made Hell a prison for the disbelievers," the spokesman said.

➤ According to al-Jaafari, US troops are now confined to the Kurdistan region, having been pushed out from all other locations by resistance factions.

➤ NATO has now withdrawn all personnel from its mission in Iraq as of Friday, March 20, with several hundred troops from NATO Mission Iraq departing after recent Iranian attacks on Western military bases; spokesperson Allison Hart said the alliance would “adjust its presence” for security reasons, while a source cited by Al Mayadeen said the Italian contingent had fled to Jordan.

Summary and Key Points: Defense analyst Jack Buckby warns that the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) faces a potential 12-to-14-month maintenance period after being sidelined by a March 12 laundry room fire.

-Currently docked at Souda Bay, Crete, the first-in-class supercarrier has completed a grueling nine-month deployment supporting over 7,000 strikes against Iran.

-The fire displaced 100 berths, compounding a massive backlog of deferred maintenance on advanced systems like EMALS and AAG.

-This “maintenance debt” threatens the U.S. Navy’s global carrier availability at a critical strategic juncture, testing the resilience of the newest 100,000-ton nuclear-powered platform.

Could the USS Gerald R. Ford Be Sidelined for A Year Or More?

The U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), has been pulled from active operations in the Red Sea and sent to Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete following a March 12 onboard fire and mounting system strain after months of sustained combat operations.

The fire, which broke out in the ship’s main laundry area, injured sailors, damaged living spaces, and required hours of firefighting and recovery efforts.

After nearly nine months at sea – one of the longest and most demanding deployments in recent Navy history – there is growing concern that the Ford could now enter an extended maintenance period.

Between fire damage and deferred maintenance, on top of the long deployment, there is a real risk that the carrier could be out of action for an extended period of time – potentially as long as 12 to 14 months.

At a time when U.S. carrier availability is already under pressure, the potential loss of the Navy’s most advanced platform could prove to be a significant problem.

USS Gerald R. Ford and Its Role

USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of the Navy’s Ford-class aircraft carriers, a next-generation design intended to replace the Nimitz-class and define the future of U.S. naval aviation.

Commissioned in 2017, the roughly 100,000-ton nuclear-powered carrier is designed to carry more than 75 aircraft and over 5,000 personnel.

The ship incorporates major technological changes, including the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), both designed to increase sortie generation rates and reduce manpower requirements compared to legacy systems.

These innovations are central to the Navy’s long-term carrier strategy but have also introduced complexity and reliability challenges since the ship entered service.

Any extended downtime for the Ford is far from ideal, carrying implications beyond a single hull. This is, after all, the first vessel of its platform, and any extended downtime might affect confidence in the class as a whole.

A Demanding Deployment in the Iran Conflict

The Ford has had a demanding deployment so far. The carrier has been active for roughly nine months, operating first in the Caribbean before being redirected to the Middle East, where it has supported sustained U.S. operations against Iran.

Since February 28, U.S. forces have conducted more than 7,000 strikes as part of the campaign, with the Ford playing a central role in launching air operations and maintaining a continuous presence in the region.

There has been no regular deployment, either. The ship has been required to sustain high sortie generation and integrate with other U.S. air assets, and there has been continuous operational pressure placed on the platform in a clearly high-threat environment. The deployment has also been extended multiple times, pushing the ship toward what may become one of the longest deployments in modern Navy history.

That has all taken a measurable toll on the vessel, with persistent issues with onboard systems like its plumbing, along with broader concerns about crew fatigue and equipment wear after months without full maintenance. Put simply, the Ford has been operating at a level that accelerates degradation across its mechanical systems, but also human performance.

The Fire and Why the Aircraft Carrier Is Set to Receive Repairs

The immediate trigger for the ship’s withdrawal was the March 12 fire, which originated in the ship’s laundry facilities and spread through adjacent areas. The incident affected roughly 100 berths and resulted in nearly 200 sailors being treated for smoke exposure, with at least one requiring evacuation.

Although the Navy confirmed that propulsion systems were unaffected and the carrier remained operational, the scale of the incident forced a reassessment of the ship’s condition.

The fire isn’t the only reason the repairs are required – it’s really just the straw that broke the camel’s back. It came after months of high operational tempo and known system issues, with no chance for maintenance.

Could It Be 14 Months of Repairs?

Under normal conditions, post-deployment maintenance for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier can take several months, even without major damage. Historical examples show that complex overhauls or major repair periods can extend well beyond a year, depending on scope and system upgrades.

In the case of Ford, several factors point to it being a longer timeline. First, the ship is a first-in-class platform with known challenges across multiple systems, meaning maintenance is already going to be more complex. Second, the extended deployment has created a backlog of deferred work that must now be addressed in a single maintenance period. Third, the fire itself caused structural and habitability damage that will require repair alongside the routine engineering work. Nothing about this is routine.

When these factors are combined, the possibility of a 12-14 month downtime seems perfectly plausible, even if it hasn ot been officially confirmed. Prolonged deployments come with a cost, and this could be it.

Japan and Germany discussed the possibility of signing an agreement to facilitate joint military exercises in their countries, against the backdrop of the Israeli-U.S. joint war against Iran.

Defense Minister of Germany Boris Pistorius revealed on Sunday that he proposed the signing of a “Facilitation Agreement” for the movement of troops from both countries for joint training purposes.

On the other hand, his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi indicated via his X profile that “it is no longer possible for a single country to respond alone to the rapidly evolving situation in this complex security environment.”

The potential pact also points to North Korea, labeling it a “growing threat” given the combat experience its army gained while assisting Russia in the special operation in Ukraine.

Koizumi received Pistorius on Sunday, and they visited the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (the Navy) base located in the Japanese city of Yokosuka.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered a forceful speech at the CELAC-Africa High-Level Forum in Bogotá on March 21, 2026. Before heads of state and delegations, Lula issued one of his sharpest critiques of US foreign policy in recent years.

He described current military and diplomatic moves as part of a deliberate plan to reimpose colonial dominance across the Western Hemisphere. “They want to colonize us again,” Lula declared, linking recent interventions to a broader erosion of self-determination.

The address came during a pivotal summit uniting Latin American-Caribbean and African leaders. Lula positioned the forum as a platform to resist external tutelage and affirm Global South autonomy.

His words resonated amid escalating tensions: the January 3, 2026 US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, persistent economic blockade on Cuba, and the ongoing US-Israeli offensive against Iran that has ignited wider Middle East conflict.

Lula condemned these as interconnected expressions of coercive power. He accused Washington of fabricating “lies” to justify regional destruction and maintain control over sovereign nations.

Lula highlighted the strategic interest in critical minerals and rare earths as a driving force behind external pressures. Latin America holds vast reserves essential for global technology and energy transitions.

Brazil ranks second worldwide in rare earth reserves after China. Lula warned that foreign powers aim to “own” these resources, echoing historical extraction patterns.

He revealed ongoing talks to boost defense cooperation with South Africa and other partners. This aims to safeguard sovereignty against potential threats tied to mineral access.

The president’s remarks reflect Brazil’s strategic positioning. Lula has resisted US pressure for exclusive agreements on critical minerals, preferring diversified partnerships that preserve national control.

Lula denounced the lethal impact of US naval operations against alleged narco-speedboats in the Pacific and Caribbean. He cited figures showing over 150 deaths since September 2025 from these attacks.

He criticized the use of lethal force as a means of territorial and social control under security pretexts. The operations, part of broader counternarcotics efforts, have drawn scrutiny for civilian casualties and sovereignty violations.

The president framed these incidents as symptoms of wider militarization. They contribute to instability in maritime routes vital for regional trade and migration.

Lula’s intervention emphasized Latin America’s potential when united. He rejected passivity in the face of external interference, urging active defense of territorial integrity.

The condemnation of Maduro’s capture as “undemocratic” underscores Brazil’s stance against regime-change operations. Lula linked it to Cuba’s blockade—an “anachronistic” measure violating sovereignty.

He portrayed the Iran war as further evidence of coercive foreign policy. Such actions destabilize energy markets and threaten broader escalation.

The president’s table-pounding moment captured the forum’s intensity. Delegates applauded his call to reject tutelage and build independent paths.

As CELAC-Africa ties deepen—with emphasis on reparations and anti-colonial cooperation—Lula’s words position Brazil as a leading voice for the Global South. His warning against recolonization through military, economic, and resource means resonates far beyond Bogotá.

In an uncertain world, the speech serves as both alert and rallying cry: sovereignty demands vigilance, unity, and unwavering commitment to peace with dignity.

International reports warn that the southern nation will enter into “extreme water stress” in less than two decades.

According to data from the World Resources Institute (WRI), disseminated by the regional media outlet Nodal , Chile is heading towards a critical survival situation; by 2040 it will become the first country in Latin America to appear in the world ranking of the 33 nations with the greatest water stress . The report warns that the country will move from “high” stress to “extremely high” stress, meaning it will deplete more than 80% of its available supply.

Currently, nearly 25 nations, home to a quarter of the world’s population, live under conditions of extreme water stress . Countries like Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar top this list, but projections for 2040 place Chile at number 24 on this worrying global ranking.

According to the WRI Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, the factors pushing Chile towards this abyss are: rising temperatures in critical regions, drastic changes in precipitation patterns, and a gap that has grown exponentially since 1960 due to industrialization and intensive agriculture.

The WRI emphasizes that the lack of water directly threatens food security , energy generation, and public health.

This technical alert from the WRI coincides with years of intense social mobilizations in Chile , where organized communities and environmental movements denounce that “it is not drought, it is plunder.”

The country’s model of private water ownership , inherited from the dictatorship, has been the driving force behind massive protests demanding the deprivatization of the resource and its recognition as a common good and a human right.

The projections for 2040 reinforce the claims of territorial organizations that warn about the hoarding of water by large mining and agro-export companies, while thousands of citizens in rural areas already have to be supplied by water trucks.

United Nations: “Water is peace”

In the context of World Water Day , which is celebrated every March 22, the United Nations (UN) has launched an urgent message under the slogan “Water for peace”.

The international organization warns that water is not just a resource to be exploited , but a human right that can be a catalyst for peace or a cause of conflict.

He stressed that more than 3 billion people depend on water sources that cross national borders, which requires urgent cooperation between countries.

Furthermore, the UN emphasized that public health, prosperity, and food systems depend directly on the sustainable management of the water cycle.

Water scarcity and pollution can exacerbate political and social tensions , becoming a factor of global instability if not addressed equitably.

Havana, March 22 (Prensa Latina) The National Electrical System (SEN) was successfully connected tonight from the western province of Pinar del Río to Guantánamo, reported the Electric Union (UNE).

Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, in a message on his official social media profile, expressed his gratitude to the country’s electrical workers for restoring service nationwide.

“Thanks to the efforts of our electrical workers, the National Electric System (SEN) was restored. Thanks to those who put forth their best to overcome the energy blockade and rise to the challenge in the face of difficulties,” Marrero wrote.

The SEN outage, which occurred on Saturday evening, originated from the shutdown of unit six at the Nuevitas power plant in Camagüey, which caused a cascading effect on the machines that were online.

Following the disconnection, authorities implemented a protocol for the gradual recovery of the system, based on the activation of micro-islands and micro-systems, with the aim of guaranteeing energy to vital centers such as hospitals and water supply systems.

Specialists explained that restoring the system is a slow and complex process, which begins with generation using fast-start sources, such as solar, hydroelectric, and distributed generation engines, and then progressively interconnecting the energized areas.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil expressed solidarity this Sunday with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez, regarding the blockade imposed by the United States on the island, after meeting in Bogotá on the occasion of the X Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).

“We express our solidarity with the Cuban people in the face of the blockade they face, reaffirming what we stated in our speech at the Celac Summit, where we raised our voice in favor of lifting the unilateral coercive measures,” Gil said in a message published on Telegram.

Likewise, the foreign minister said that they reviewed the historical ties that unite both nations, as well as the geopolitical situation in the region, without offering further details.

On Saturday, Gil defended the union of the global south to respond to the “complex” times the world is experiencing, in his speech at the High-Level Forum of Celac and Africa.

The foreign minister pointed out that the countries of the global south are not “responsible for the current situation of confrontation, aggression, and violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter.”

Faced with this situation “of permanent war, of threat, of the use of force against brotherly peoples by minorities of the world,” the Venezuelan foreign minister proposed “the construction of true bridges of cooperation and intercontinental unity” because “a united Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa represent a powerful frame of reference for the profound transformation of the international order.”

For his part, the Cuban foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, expressed, at the CELAC meeting, his country’s willingness to “serious” and “non-interfering” dialogue with the United States.

This Sunday, the Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, stated that the armed forces of his country are preparing for a possible military aggression by the United States.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on Saturday for an immediate cessation of aggression by the United States and Israel as a key condition for ending the regional conflict.

In a telephone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pezeshkian rejected recent accusations from Washington and accused Israel of “sowing terror” across Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Qatar and Iran.

The Iranian leader said stopping military operations and ensuring they do not resume are essential steps toward any sustainable solution. He also floated the creation of a regional security structure composed solely of Middle Eastern countries, arguing that external powers should be excluded to guarantee long-term stability.

Modi, meanwhile, condemned attacks on critical infrastructure and underscored the importance of keeping maritime trade routes open and secure. He thanked Tehran for its cooperation in protecting Indian nationals amid regional tensions.

The conversation comes as Indian companies, alongside other Asian markets, assess the possibility of resuming Iranian oil purchases following a temporary suspension of U.S. sanctions. Analysts say such a move could strengthen Iran’s struggling economy and reshape dynamics in the global energy market.

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales (2006-2019) denounced this Sunday the alleged “arbitrary proscription of candidates and popular organizations” while casting his vote at a school in the Tropics of Cochabamba (center), during the regional elections in the country to elect nine governors and 335 mayors.

Morales voted at a school in the Villa 14 de Septiembre community, his political and union stronghold, accompanied by his followers and his candidate for governor of Cochabamba, Leonardo Loza, a coca grower leader who was a senator for the Movement for Socialism (MAS) in the previous legislature.

“Exercising the right to choose in Villa 14 de Septiembre. Despite the arbitrary proscription of candidates and popular organizations, we are complying with democracy,” Morales posted on his X account.

The former president also said that they will not forget “the wickedness and illegality of the electoral power subjected to the Executive power that prevented the people from exercising their right to be elected.”

Morales alludes to the fact that the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) determined up to three days before the vote the disqualification of some municipal candidates on the grounds that they did not meet the residency requirements in the city for which they were running.

In statements to the media, he also called on the population to participate. “I ask the Bolivian population to participate. Everyone has their candidates, whether they are from the left, right, the empire, the people, it is a personal right today,” he said.

In recent hours, political organizations from the city of El Alto, neighboring La Paz, protested before the TSE for the removal of two mayoral candidates, among 18 candidates.

“We have returned to the exclusionary state with a president by accident and with an apparent OAS. We will continue fighting for a participatory, inclusive, popular, dignified and sovereign democracy,” the former president stated on X.

Morales is taking refuge in the Tropics of Cochabamba as he is under the threat of arrest for the alleged crime of aggravated human trafficking.

Pope Leo XIV Middle East war condemnation labels suffering a ‘scandal to humanity,’ urging immediate ceasefire and sincere dialogue amid escalating conflict.

Pope Leo XIV Middle East war condemnation resonated powerfully during Sunday’s Angelus on March 22, 2026. From the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff expressed profound dismay at escalating violence tearing through the region and other global hotspots.

Despite rainy weather in Rome, thousands of faithful gathered to pray with Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope (elected May 8, 2025, as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost). His words carried added weight amid ongoing US-Israel operations against Iran and retaliatory strikes.

The Holy Father described the pain, death, and destruction as “a scandal to the entire human family and a cry before God.” He stressed that indifference from the international community is no longer tenable.

“We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many defenseless people, innocent victims of these conflicts,” Pope Leo XIV declared. He emphasized shared humanity: “What hurts them hurts all of humanity.”

The message, though not naming specific parties, clearly referenced the acute crisis in the Middle East. It aligned with the pontiff’s consistent stance since early March, when he first addressed the outbreak of hostilities.

The pope renewed urgent calls for action. He demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities to halt the cycle of violence.

He advocated opening paths of peace grounded in sincere dialogue and mutual respect. Any resolution, he insisted, must center human dignity and prioritize the protection of life.

“I strongly renew my appeal to persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and paths to peace may finally open up, based on sincere dialogue and respect for the dignity of every human person,” Pope Leo XIV concluded before imparting his blessing.

The Angelus remarks followed weeks of Vatican concern. Earlier statements warned of risks to Lebanon and broader regional instability, urging weapons to fall silent and dialogue to prevail.

Pope Leo XIV Middle East war intervention underscores the Vatican’s moral voice in a multipolar world grappling with major-power rivalries and proxy conflicts. By framing violence as a universal scandal, the pope challenges justifications for military escalation, urging accountability from all actors—including Western powers and regional states.

In West Asia, the appeal amplifies pressure for de-escalation amid threats to reopen key chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and fears of wider involvement (Lebanon, Syria). It aligns with Global South calls for sovereignty and non-intervention, reinforcing multilateral forums where developing nations seek equitable peace processes.

Globally, it highlights tensions between unilateral actions and international law, potentially influencing diplomatic efforts in the UN, EU, and Non-Aligned Movement. The pontiff’s focus on human dignity over strategic gains could shape public opinion and policy debates on arms transfers, sanctions, and humanitarian access.

María Takara de Oshiro, iconic Madre de Plaza de Mayo and nikkei community leader, dies at 95 after nearly 50 years searching for disappeared son Jorge Eduardo.

María Takara de Oshiro passed away at age 95 on March 20, 2026, leaving the Argentine human rights community in mourning. For nearly five decades she tirelessly searched for her son Jorge Eduardo Oshiro, abducted by the 1976-1983 civic-military dictatorship.

Her death, just days before the 50th anniversary of the March 24, 1976 coup, renews focus on unresolved cases of enforced disappearance. María became a bridge between Argentina’s nikkei community and the broader struggle for Memory, Truth, and Justice.

Born in Japan and settled in Argentina, María embodied the fusion of Japanese cultural resilience with Argentine popular resistance. She represented the 17 nikkei victims—first-generation descendants born outside Japan—targeted by state terrorism.

Her journey began the day Jorge vanished on November 10, 1976. Though she searched privately for years, María formally joined Madres de Plaza de Mayo rounds in 2016. On April 30, 2018, she first wore the iconic white pañuelo, embroidered by friends and handed to her by veteran Madre Nora Cortiñas.

“For me, this is the first time with the white pañuelo in the Plaza… with the love of all of you,” she said that day, marking her full embrace by the movement.

Jorge Eduardo Oshiro was born January 2, 1958, in Argentina. At 18, he studied at Escuela Técnica de Villa Ballester and militated in the Partido Socialista de los Trabajadores (PST). He played the sanshin—a traditional Okinawan three-string instrument—while embracing rock nacional, Latin American music, and chess.

Friends recall him distributing leaflets and selling political magazines, driven by conviction in social change during the turbulent 1970s. His abduction occurred violently at home in Villa Ballester.

A 2005 survivor testimony placed Jorge in the clandestine detention center at Campo de Mayo. His case forms part of the ongoing megacausa investigating crimes against humanity there.

María’s persistence highlighted the often-overlooked impact on immigrant communities. The nikkei victims included Norma Inés Matsuyama, Amelia Ana Higa, Katsuya Higa, Juan Carlos Higa, Carlos Alberto Cardozo Higa, Carlos Aníbal Nakandakare, Emilio Yoshimiya, Carlos Eduardo Ishikawa, Luis Esteban Matsuyama, Oscar Takashi Ohshiro, Juan Takara, Juan Alberto Asato, Ricardo Dakuyaku, Carlos Horacio Gushiken, Julio Eduardo Gushiken, Jorge Nakamura, and Jorge Eduardo Oshiro.

These cases, documented in works like the documentary Silencio Roto, reveal how the dictatorship’s repression crossed ethnic lines, targeting youth involved in leftist activism regardless of origin.

Santiago, Chile, March 22 (Prensa Latina) The approval rating of Chile’s new president, José Antonio Kast, dropped from 57 to 51 percent, according to the results of the Plaza Pública Cadem survey published today.

According to the survey, the most significant drops were recorded among women, with a 13-point drop, and among people aged 35 to 54, with a decrease of 12.

The online survey, which included 1,005 people over the age of 18 from all regions of the country, also inquired about the public’s opinion on some of the measures announced by the new administration.

Regarding the plan to eliminate the Fuel Price Stabilization Mechanism (Mepco), 48 percent are against suspending it and 83 percent think that a price increase would greatly impact them.

In contrast, regarding the Border Shield Plan to close irregular crossings in the north of the country, 63 percent approve, 28 percent disapprove, and nine percent do not respond.

Kast assumed the presidency on March 11 and in his first week announced a series of measures that generated rejection, including the elimination of free university tuition for students over 30 years of age and the suspension of 43 environmental decrees.

Kent linked the death of the MAGA activist to opposition to the war against Iran and denounced the influence of the Zionist lobby in the Trump Administration.

Kent stated that the Committee created to investigate the murder of the MAGA activist was not allowed to continue its investigation. The former Director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, made serious accusations against the Trump Administration and external actors linked to foreign policy in the Middle East.

During an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s interview program, Kent revealed that the Zionist lobby exerted decisive pressure to involve Washington in the war against Iran, assuring that Kirk insisted to prevent the attacks.

Furthermore, the official, who resigned due to his opposition to unprovoked aggression, insinuated that this lobby could be behind the assassination of the MAGA activist Charlie Kirk.

Kent confirmed that correspondence was found after Kirk’s murder, which occurred on September 10, 2015, in Utah. Documents confirm that the activist was subjected to intense pressure from pro-Zionist donors for opposing the use of force against Tehran. According to this, he also denounced that Israel could be behind Kirk’s murder.

Kirk, described by Kent as “one of President Donald Trump’s closest advisors”, openly advocated against going to war with Iran. He also promoted reconsidering, at the very least, the relation with Israel. The former official denounced that the Committee created to investigate the crime was not allowed to continue its inquiry.

Kent participated in a parallel investigation to that of the FBI, along with the National Counterterrorism Center, but asserted that they were prevented from continuing. “There were still many things to investigate that I can’t get into”, he stated. Kent questioned the circumstances of the attack: “Suddenly, he’s publicly murdered, and we’re not allowed to ask any questions about it?”

He insisted that the case shows signs of outside interference. “Honestly, there are unanswered questions. We know, thanks to the text messages that have been made public, that Charlie was under a lot of pressure from many pro-Israel donors”, he said.

Regarding the Washington and Tel Aviv bombings of Iran, Kent alleged that senior officials -including himself- with concerns were “not allowed” to share opinions with Trump. According to the former advisor, the U.S. President relied on a small circle of advisors to make his decision and there were not intelligence information to support that Iran was developing a nuclear weapon.

“A significant number of key decision-makers were not allowed to come and express their opinions to the President”, Kent told Tucker Carlson. “There was no robust debate”, the former official stated, although he did not specify who prevented him from doing so.

Misinformation Warned

In his resignation letter, Kent asserted that at the beginning of Trump’s second term, he fell under the influence of a “misinformation campaign” orchestrated by “senior Israeli officials and influential members of the U.S. media.”

According to Kent, “this echo chamber was used to deceive him (Donald Trump) into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that if he acted now, there was a clear path to a swift victory.” This was false and constitutes the same tactic the Israelis used to drag us into the disastrous Iraq War.

Currently, Kent urged the U.S. President to reflect on actions in Iran and “for whom they are doing them”, recalling his own service in the U.S. military.

In the West, the crimes of the Zionists and Israel are condoned by labeling any critic as an anti-Semite. This approach obscures the following fact: The Zionists promote anti-Semitism to legitimize their crimes.

Introduction

The Collective West, which unconditionally supports the war of destruction against Iran, claims that anyone who raises their voice against the Zionists and Israel is an anti-Semite who must be punished. This strategy of the West is not only malicious, but it ultimately leads to precisely what the “anti-Semitism” label purports to want to prevent with all political and, increasingly, legal power: namely, the perception of Israeli policy as a crime of Judaism.

Anyone who perceives Israel’s policies in this way and is unable to separate the wheat from the chaff is almost inevitably drawn toward anti-Semitic attitudes in the uncritical political debate taking place in the West. This tendency is fueled by the deliberately vague definitions of anti-Semitism, Judaism, and Zionism, as well as the distinctions between them. These definitions, which blur the boundaries of the concepts, form the very basis upon which the West acts with all its might and passes judgment, particularly in Germany.

And so the circle closes. The Zionists need anti-Semitism so they can portray themselves as its victims and use it to promote and achieve their criminal goals.

A few thoughts on a topic that is sure to get the blood boiling among Zionists and uneducated fools in the West. Zionism, Israel, Judaism

Judaism is the sum of the culture, history, religion, and traditions of the Jewish people and has existed for approximately 4,000 years (see also our discussion on this topic in “Judaism, Zionism, Anti-Semitism, and Israel: Misuse of Terms” from October 2023.)

Zionism is a political movement that has existed in an organized form since the First Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897. This movement has nothing to do with Judaism; rather, it was founded by the Viennese journalist Theodor Herzl, a completely non-religious man. The original goal of this political movement was the establishment or proclamation of the State of Israel, which was achieved in 1948. Today, the goal of Zionism is the creation of Greater Israel, which is intended to dominate most of the Middle East. What will the goal be after that?

Theodor Herzl made the following statement:

«The anti-Semites will become our most dependable friends, the anti-Semitic countries our allies.» Theodor Herzl, 1896

The notion that Jews are under threat is a central element of the Zionist master plan. The Zionists hide behind anti-Semitism and Judaism in order to carry out their crimes. Another goal they pursue is the merging of Zionism and Judaism. The reason is simple: Many people have—rightly so—reservations about criticizing Jews, not only because of the Holocaust, but also because of the countless pogroms that took place in nearly every European country. By merging Zionism and Judaism, the Zionists create an excellent protective shield for themselves.

As long as Western politicians cannot distinguish between Zionism, Israel, and Greater Israel as Zionist projects on the one hand, and Judaism on the other—and do not seem willing to do so—Judaism is bound to lose, and the Zionist criminals hiding behind it are bound to win.

Who are the Zionists?

The US Congress supports Israel as a Zionist project with approximately $5 billion annually. Furthermore, the US provides Israel with every form of political support for war, genocide, land theft, and the complete enslavement of people. In addition to Adelson’s well-known large donation to Trump, hordes of American politicians are being bought off en masse so that they speak and vote in Israel’s interests. In the current 119th U.S. Congress (532 members), only 32 Jews are represented (6%); nevertheless, the U.S. Congress, which consists of 87% Christians, has voted staunchly in favor of Zionism since 1948 (figures: Pew Research).

To secure a majority in Congress, 50% plus one vote (266+1) is required; thus, at least 235 non-Jews, together with 32 Jews, determine the Zionist policy of the United States, bringing the non-Jewish share of Zionists in the U.S. Congress to a staggering 88%.

Israel is nothing more than an American outpost through which the US controls the Middle East. In my view, the question of whether Israel controls the US or the US controls and manipulates Israel is irrelevant from a geopolitical perspective. Together, they form a power bloc designed to subjugate one of the richest and most sensitive regions in the world. Distinguishing who dominates whom only becomes relevant when considering how to neutralize this alliance. What do Jews Say about Zionism and Israel?

In the West, especially in Europe, people are completely unaware that there are many Jews who despise and oppose Zionism and the Israeli project. Non-Jews, on the other hand—such as the German Chancellor—are pursuing a Zionist agenda regardless of the consequences. This goes so far that Friedrich Merz unconditionally and without reservation promotes and supports an Israeli and US attack on Iran, claiming it is necessary.

His hate-monger Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who works for the arms industry, supports every war as part of her job, and has no qualms whatsoever about stoking hatred on a Nazi scale, said a few days ago on the public broadcaster ARD:

“Iran is a plague on this earth” Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, 19 March 2026

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann: Form follows function

People have absolutely no sense or idea that, in terms of communication, we have once again reached the level of Hitler and Goebbels—and ultimately, once again at the expense of the Jews—because many Jews who oppose Zionism are being persecuted anew for something they cannot change: the fact that they are Jewish.

In the following, I feature two Jewish speakers: a rabbi who assesses the issue from a religious perspective, and an Israeli journalist who touches on a sore spot in Israeli society.

Rabbi Abraham Silberstein

Rabbi Abraham Silberstein is a leading Jewish scholar who advocates for animal rights within Judaism and serves as the Executive Director of Voice of Rabbis. He is known for his critical stance on the biblical justification for land claims in the Middle East, based on teachings from the Torah and the Talmud.

“I want to be clear that violence against anyone is never allowed.But let me explain this further.The Zionist government cannot sustain itself without antisemitism.Zionists need Jewish people to live in constant fear, in order for their existence, as so-called Jewish saviours should look true.Zionists will always use words such as Holocaust and pogroms to describe incidents that don’t even apply to Jewish people, but strictly to this Israeli government.Also, Zionists are working day and night to merge the identity of Judaism and Zionism into one.They need Jews to be responsible for their action, or else they cannot use antisemitism as a shield.They’ll always say it’s about all the Jewish people. Not Israel, to get us to pay.We see this in the streets of Europe, and now also in America. It must be stopped.Zionists are working for their selfish agendas at the expense of Jewish people.” Rabbi Silberstein, 20 March 2026

Gideon Levy

Gideon Levy, an Israeli journalist, is a vocal critic of Israeli policy and condemns the widespread belief among Israelis that they are superior to the rest of the world. In the linked speech, he sarcastically criticizes the following points: Israel as the chosen people, Israelis as the great victims—the only victims—and Palestinians as subhuman, since Israelis are superior.

Conclusion

Not only does the West give the criminal Zionists carte blanche to commit genocide and wage illegal wars—acts that, under the Nuremberg criteria, would all be punishable by death—but it also finances these malicious deeds at the expense of taxpayers, who are driven into poverty as a result of these wars.

Anyone who speaks up against this is labeled an anti-Semite and ostracized—by people who don’t even realize that anti-Semitism is the very lifeblood of the Zionists.

Peter Hanseler is a geopolitical analyst who reports from Moscow. Peter was born in Zurich, Switzerland. He holds a J.D. (lic. iur.) and Ph.D. (Dr. iur.) from Zurich University Law School and Master in International Commercial Law (LL.M.) from Georgetown University Law School, Washington, D.C. He has lived in the US, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Russia. Peter is independent, his work is not supported by government or private entities. Peter’s website Forumgeopolitica.com publishes its content in English, Russian, German and French.