Recent headlines call to mind a notable Shakespearean turn of phrase: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Actually, what today’s events are likely to “try” (or test, in today’s parlance) is our national resolve. Hanging in the balance may be nothing short the fate of the Free World and perhaps even our lives.
Consider a sampler of recent, ominous developments:
O In Iraq, Islamofascist terrorists have made progress toward their stated objective of catapulting the country into sectarian civil war, quite possibly their only remaining hope of avoiding defeat at the hands of increasingly capable Iraqi security services. The destruction of the Golden Dome mosque revered by Shiite Muslims around the world – said to be the work of Sunni al-Qaeda operatives – invited and precipitated a wave of reprisals, many of them condoned by both traditions’ clerics.
Some of those imams are young firebrands like Moqtada al-Sadr, who seek power and are using such provocations to inspire and incite their growing followings of disaffected, unemployed youths. Others are older religious leaders like Ayatollah al Sistani, who has long been a moderating force, but who now finds himself obliged to compete with the firebrands, or risk having his authority largely dissipate.
The fledgling, fragile political process – already riven by historic grievances and the jockeying for influence and treasure since the liberation of Iraq – is at a crossroads: It seems likely either to coalesce, or crater. Much is riding on the path that will be taken, not just for Iraq, but for the region and the wider War for the Free World.
O Iran has successfully enlisted Russia in yet-another time-buying feint, a just-announced “basic agreement” whereby Moscow and Tehran will reportedly jointly manage the latter’s spent nuclear fuel. Even though the details of this arrangement remain to be made public, two things are certain: 1) Iran has not abandoned its determined effort to obtain nuclear weapons and 2) far from preventing such an outcome, this gambit will likely afford the Iranian Islamofascist regime the opportunity to achieve it.