I AND MY WORDS

Picture of Israeli Attack on Teheran Mehr (courtesy Wikimedia Commons)   The dust has seemingly begun to settle on the most significant escalation in the Middle East in decades. Following the April 8, 2026, ceasefire , a new and unsettling landscape is emerging. While the immediate thunder of "Operation Epic Fury" has silenced, the geopolitical ripples suggest that we are not witnessing the end of a conflict, but rather a violent recalibration of its terms—one where "victory" is a word used by leaders who may soon be out of a job. Provided this peace goes through, quite a few interesting outcomes are visible. 1. Striking the Head of the Hydra For years, the strategy was defined by "mowing the grass"—degrading proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah. In 2026, the doctrine shifted from the limbs to the "head of the hydra." By moving beyond containment to direct strikes on Iranian command structures and nuclear infrastructure, the U.S. and Israel attem...

  A paper by the rather elite foreign policy think-tank Atlantic Council, authored by a person who wishes to remain anonymous, garnered a lot of attention in the American press. Titled The Longer Telegram , It is ironic though that people within India refused to discuss or deliberate the paper barring one odd video deliberating on it in a rather hallowed way.  Given the stark reality of the adversary standing next door, this paper should have certainly received more attention. Instead, what we have seen is a strangely absurd silence on the subject. Be that as it may, it is imperative that a short look at the paper is taken, and lessons are derived from it that need to be considered seriously in the defence and foreign policy circles. The Fait Accompli Approach Has Failed – US’ China Policy Remains Incoherent The paper can be seen as a wakeup call for the American diplomatic circles in all senses. Some of the wooly headed optimism regarding China had been wearing thin over ...