Broken Bangles: Life, Stories, Thoughts

  Who is the most hated man on Earth now? The answer might very well be Benjamin Netanyahu. The hugely disproportionate and genocidal response to the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israeli military and civilians by Hamas has put Netanyahu on top of the most hated list. Though his public approval has almost completely been eroded even in Israel, this man is pursuing a war not only against Hamas but the entire 2 million population of Gaza.  A passionate proponent of right-wing liberalism and world order, Netanyahu has always navigated dangerous and unbelievably murky waters throughout his life as a leader and politician. Those close to him have observed that he believes himself to be a messiah with a duty to protect Israel. His one peculiar trait is that he can unflinchingly make unpopular and even genocidal decisions if he believes necessary for the protection of Israel. He has been accused of corruption but none of the allegations have put down roots. He represents an ancient...

  Naim Qassim has assumed charge as the new Secretary-general of the Lebanese military-political group, Hezbollah. He is another Hezbollah hardliner, referred to as the “Hezbollah intellectual” in the outside circles.  The New Chief of Hezbollah Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hasan Nasrallah was killed in Beirut by Israel on September 27, 2024. Naim Qassim, the new Secretary-General, was the founding member of Hezbollah, a cleric, and has been the Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah since 1991. After Nasarallah’s assassination, he has served as the acting Secretary-General.  Naim Qassim has also been the general coordinator of Hezbollah's parliamentary election-related campaigns since 1992 when the organisation debuted in electoral politics. He lacks the charisma of Hasan Nasrallah. Qassim has been Hezbollah's face before international media, giving interviews and functioning as its spokesperson. Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council and the potent...

  Lebanon: A Reminder Israel has begun to send missiles, bombs, and foot soldiers to Lebanon in the name of destroying Hezbollah. The US is also expected to step in if the conflict worsens. One would wonder why America has been obsessed with the Middle East. The answers are complex and related to how economically powerful countries thrive for world dominance. Lebanon has a unique place in history as the first country in the Middle East to experience a US military action.  This is the story of how the Middle East became a battleground for America. The first step was taken in Lebanon. The year was 1958. The Beginning of the US Military Action in Lebanon and the Eisenhower Doctrine A summer in Lebanon half a century back, the beachgoers of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, saw a curious sight. Boats after boats of US Marines began to arrive on the shores of Beirut. Bruce Riedel, the author of the book, ‘Beirut 1958: How America’s Wars in the Middle East Began’ (2019), writes that t...

  Hezbollah is an intriguing phenomenon, a nation inside a nation that is volatile and out of control beyond the reach of Lebanese state machinery. Still, it has a huge presence socially, politically, and militarily.   Hezbollah is basically a Shiʿah Muslim political party and a militant group. The role of Hezbollah in Lebanon is one legitimate yet without responsibility. Curiously, Hezbollah is assessed as having the military prowess to take over Lebanon if it wants to. Yet, the organisation seems not inclined to do so. However, it commands its own armed force.  Hezbollah operates inside and outside Lebanon and is not accountable to the Lebanese government. The Lebanese democratic system has many cracks, which Hezbollah takes advantage of and grows roots in. The group also has informal agreements with the country's elite groups. Yet, it is not as if this organisation is holding hostage the Lebanese government with military might. The reality is much more complex....