The Fragility of Gulf States
Four Gulf States—Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—are structurally fragile and may not survive a prolonged U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict. They were carved out of the region and established in the late 20th century, following the decline of […]
Submit or Perish! Reading Thucydides in Iran
Honorable daughters, peace be upon you. Hope you are enjoying your school. Come closer because I am an old man, as you can see, and can only speak softly. The girls lean in. I will tell you an ancient […]
Mamdani Political Salvos
L. Ali Khan In 1837, Ethan Allen of Massachusetts patented a low-cost, multi-barreled revolver called the pepperbox—a compact weapon that enabled ordinary people to fire several shots without reloading. Its name derives from its similarity to a household pepper […]
Divine Healing
Divine healing is as old as humanity. Some call it superstition; some call it a placebo effect. However, the believers swear by its efficacy. Praying is an old medicine in all societies, regardless of the names of the deities. […]
Pakistan’s Hybrid Democracy
One. A mixed rule by elected representatives and military establishment is a hybrid democracy. The combined ability of the military establishment and elected representatives to run the core affairs of the state is the emerging model of Pakistan’s democracy. […]
Sevens Manifesto for Democracy
One. Democracy is an imperfect form of government but superior to dictatorship (rule of one), kingship (rule of a royal family), theocracy (rule of clerics), oligarchy (rule of a group of tyrants), and aristocracy (rule of an educated and […]
American Professors Under Attack for Criticizing Israel
L. Ali Khan Canary Mission, an anonymous surveillance website now operating for nearly a decade, identifies American professors, students, and professionals for their criticisms of Israeli policies in the occupied territories of Gaza, West Bank, and Golan Heights. The […]
Pakistan’s Chief Justice Undermines Supreme Court Credibility
L. Ali Khan Imagine a system under which the U.S. Supreme Court hears cases as panels consisting of three to five Justices rather than as a full court of nine. Suppose that the Chief Justice makes a five-Justice panel […]
