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...

Three disparate events have occurred that seem disconnected on the surface but should worry us all. Arshdeep Singh , the left arm bowler representing India in the Asia Cup cricket tournament, was subject to information and psychological warfare of the worst kind. A vilification campaign was run from across the border, positing him as a Khalistani cricketer. Unfortunately, in the current simmering environment, there were quite a few people who walked right into the trap set. What was absolutely appalling was also the fact that popular reference intermediaries like Wikipedia were caught flashing such narratives.  Questions on accountability apart, the narrative setting effort was considerable, with known anti-India baiters inside India also trying to talk the same language as these elements of anarchy, clearly betraying signs of a well orchestrated intelligence operation. There has been a desperate effort for a while across the section to show all Sikhs as enemies of the state, which...