This was written in 1997: "The Moscow-Teheran Axis
The most ambitious and complex part of Dugin's program concerns the South, where the focal point is a Moscow-Teheran axis. "The idea of a continental Russian-Islamic alliance," he writes, "lies at the foundation of anti-Atlanticist strategy. [T]his alliance is based on the traditional character of Russian and Islamic civilization" (158). "On the whole," he continues, "the entire Islamic zone represents a naturally friendly geopolitical reality in relation to the Eurasian Empire, since the Islamic tradition ... fully understands the spiritual incompatibility of America and religion. The Atlanticists themselves see the Islamic world, on the whole, as their potential opponent" (239).
As the result of an especially broad Grand Alliance to be concluded with Iran, Dugin maintins that Eurasia-Russia will enjoy the prospect of realizing a centuries-old Russian dream and finally reach the "warm seas" of the Indian Ocean. "In relation to the South," he writes, "the 'geopolitical axis of history' [Russia] has only one imperative--geopolitical expansion to the shores of the Indian Ocean" (341). "Having received geopolitical access--in the first place, naval bases--on the Iranian shores," he writes, "Eurasia will enjoy full security from the strategy of the 'Anaconda ring'" (241). Eurasia-Russia and the Empire of Iran, he emphasizes, will have "one and the same geopolitical tendency" (242)." https://tec.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/aleksandr-dugins-foundations-geopolitics
If you look at the rest of the article, Putin appears to be following Dugin's prescriptions pretty closely.
What is so pathetically ironic about Dugin’s insane musings is that Muscovy and later “Russia” has traditionally hated Muslim people and has treated them with utter contempt and in effect genocidal policies toward the Tatars, Kazakh, Uzbek, and other Muslim/Turkic peoples that are Muslim. It just shows the naked thirst for empire and power at any cost and at any twisting of history.
The Houthis made a suicidal move here. 11 nations. It's important to note the goals: they WANT dead Muslim civilians; to unite 1 bn in an apocalyptic war. Believe ALL Muslims should all be willing to go to heaven to further their cause. This doesn't get enough play here; its not the western nations fault when civilians die. They are hiding in and launching attacks from populated areas for a reason. This is not a noble fight their engaged with of fighters vs military. They target civilians dare the enemy to hit them back hiding in cities and then broadcast the inevitable deaths.
I've assumed that the allies would have had significant satellite and electronic intelligence on the Houthis, for example, very precise locations of where they'd fired all of their missiles from, and even of where their radar and arms storage facilities are. So, am I over-estimating the allies' ability to take out all of these assets in a single strike and if so, why? Thanks.
Mick, good summary of the thinking and options going forward. What baffles me is that the Houthi’s are not exactly popular, yet where are KSA and the Gulf States in helping disable the threat? Why are they doing nothing? Why wait on the US and UK to do something?
My other question is why did this take so long? Yes, the US seems to be scared of escalation but the longer they do nothing, the more escalatory the response must be. It takes significant deterrence out of the box, and exercising it immediately to keep things from getting out of control. Instead the US waits and waits and only emboldens the Houthi’s which requires more extensive operations to eliminate the threat and send the message to cease.
This was written in 1997: "The Moscow-Teheran Axis
The most ambitious and complex part of Dugin's program concerns the South, where the focal point is a Moscow-Teheran axis. "The idea of a continental Russian-Islamic alliance," he writes, "lies at the foundation of anti-Atlanticist strategy. [T]his alliance is based on the traditional character of Russian and Islamic civilization" (158). "On the whole," he continues, "the entire Islamic zone represents a naturally friendly geopolitical reality in relation to the Eurasian Empire, since the Islamic tradition ... fully understands the spiritual incompatibility of America and religion. The Atlanticists themselves see the Islamic world, on the whole, as their potential opponent" (239).
As the result of an especially broad Grand Alliance to be concluded with Iran, Dugin maintins that Eurasia-Russia will enjoy the prospect of realizing a centuries-old Russian dream and finally reach the "warm seas" of the Indian Ocean. "In relation to the South," he writes, "the 'geopolitical axis of history' [Russia] has only one imperative--geopolitical expansion to the shores of the Indian Ocean" (341). "Having received geopolitical access--in the first place, naval bases--on the Iranian shores," he writes, "Eurasia will enjoy full security from the strategy of the 'Anaconda ring'" (241). Eurasia-Russia and the Empire of Iran, he emphasizes, will have "one and the same geopolitical tendency" (242)." https://tec.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/aleksandr-dugins-foundations-geopolitics
If you look at the rest of the article, Putin appears to be following Dugin's prescriptions pretty closely.
What is so pathetically ironic about Dugin’s insane musings is that Muscovy and later “Russia” has traditionally hated Muslim people and has treated them with utter contempt and in effect genocidal policies toward the Tatars, Kazakh, Uzbek, and other Muslim/Turkic peoples that are Muslim. It just shows the naked thirst for empire and power at any cost and at any twisting of history.
The Houthis made a suicidal move here. 11 nations. It's important to note the goals: they WANT dead Muslim civilians; to unite 1 bn in an apocalyptic war. Believe ALL Muslims should all be willing to go to heaven to further their cause. This doesn't get enough play here; its not the western nations fault when civilians die. They are hiding in and launching attacks from populated areas for a reason. This is not a noble fight their engaged with of fighters vs military. They target civilians dare the enemy to hit them back hiding in cities and then broadcast the inevitable deaths.
Mick,
I've assumed that the allies would have had significant satellite and electronic intelligence on the Houthis, for example, very precise locations of where they'd fired all of their missiles from, and even of where their radar and arms storage facilities are. So, am I over-estimating the allies' ability to take out all of these assets in a single strike and if so, why? Thanks.
We also had all this in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mick, good summary of the thinking and options going forward. What baffles me is that the Houthi’s are not exactly popular, yet where are KSA and the Gulf States in helping disable the threat? Why are they doing nothing? Why wait on the US and UK to do something?
My other question is why did this take so long? Yes, the US seems to be scared of escalation but the longer they do nothing, the more escalatory the response must be. It takes significant deterrence out of the box, and exercising it immediately to keep things from getting out of control. Instead the US waits and waits and only emboldens the Houthi’s which requires more extensive operations to eliminate the threat and send the message to cease.
And so begins 2024. This is the decade of instability, for sure… Thanks for a good write up!