Axis of Resistance summit
On Thursday, Russia hosted the “Axis of Resistance” summit in Moscow. Leaders representing Russia, Iran, and Hamas convened under the aegis of resistance. But the irony hung thicker than the polluted air in a Tehran traffic jam.
Frankly, its members have committed so many war crimes that the Bushism “Axis of Evil” seems a more fitting nom de guerre. But self-awareness is clearly not the strong suit of this unholy alliance.
The Axis hallmark: cannon Fodder and human Shields
Frankly, what binds them is the way they use humans as cannon fodder and human shields.
- Putin wages a genocidal war in Ukraine. He exudes the casual air of a man watching his favorite hockey team.
- Iran directs its jihadi proxies to launch rockets at Israel. It’s as if they’re curating a twisted art exhibit, each explosion a brushstroke on the canvas of geopolitical instability.
- Hamas provokes Israel into firefights. It does so with the enthusiasm of a pyromaniac at a fireworks store, seemingly indifferent to the flames that consume their own people.
In other words, their record of human rights abuses has effectively kidnapped, bound, and gagged the word “resistance.” It mirrors how they are accused of kidnapping, gagging, and raping women as a weapon of war.
Collateral damage vs. strategic barbarism
Some may argue that the United States waged a genocidal war in Iraq, and that Israel is doing the same in Gaza. But there’s one glaring and mitigating distinction.
In their case, the killing of civilians is collateral damage. And their enemies often make that damage much worse by using civilians as human shields. Not to mention reports about Russia executing its own soldiers for disobeying orders to commit war crimes. By contrast, for Russia, Iran, and Hamas, killing civilians is a strategy.
Even so, I am constrained to note that the US at least strived to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis. Israel seems to have no interest in doing the same with Palestinians. It will regret this.
Indeed, I presaged the self-defeating and alienating folly of carpet bombing Gaza to kill Hamas leaders. After all, the US used Special Forces to kill bin Laden. It didn’t bomb his compound, killing scores of innocent people.