Zeus Moiragetes

It is a comfortable feeling - that of believing there is a God of Fate - and what occurs, is that which was always meant to be;  a world where man is not the arbiter of his own disputes nor the final word on personal outcomes.  In the Christian faith, those who hold to the doctrine of Calvinism can have the dimmest view of life.  Or if life treats the individual fairly well, the smugness which accompanies self-righteousness prevails.

I am a much more simple creature.  I embrace free will and free moral agency.  But certain choices can restrict our greater freedoms.  These choices, become our prison guards.  And our choices regarding Iran are now wearing IRGC uniforms.

In Islam, the concept of Al Hutamah  (Surah al-Mulk 7). It is the living creature of Allah which draws in its breath, sighs, and speaks.  It is chemical reactions... tubes of fire with columns stretching outward... bellows which contract and expand.  

And whatever your belief:  Zeus,  a merciful Christian god,  a malignant, narcissistic Allah - the bellows of war are contracting and expanding.

Contraction:

Malik Shariati, Head of the Energy Committee in the Iranian Parliament has announced the desire to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty while concurrently seeking a new treaty with BRICS.

Expansion:

The IRGC has announced that any vessel belonging to U.S. allies traveling into ports of call in the Gulf will be denied passage, regardless of route or destination.

Expansion:

An announcement that civilian structures which support U.S. and Israeli interests are also now fair game.

Expansion:

The targeting map for UAE - if hostile action is taken against the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Contraction:

Damage to several KC 135 Stratotanker parked at the Prince Sultan Air Base yesterday.  The current price tag for one aircraft varies, dependent on the search engine.  But these mighty beasts can remain in service for multiple decades.

As a nurse, I found it interesting that ten military members seriously injured in the attack yesterday were listed as having sustained "concussions" on one media platform.  Two, were listed as very seriously injured. But I find it unlikely that an aggregate of ten would sustain exactly the same injury.  Traumatic brain injuries can range from closed to open skull fractures to the more hideous intracranial bleeds which can lead to death or a continued "living dead" military member requiring 24 hour intensive levels of care.

There is also a contraction of our forces within their former barracks and spaces in the Middle East as platforms are being vacated of the human components of war to pull back to safer pastures.  Iran is watching these movements very closely.  And personnel vacuums can create unique and new problems for our hosting Gulf nations.

Revenge, as emotional response, is a non-gender creature.  A sentinel event can create the appetite, but once having acquired the "taste" - the creature is difficult to satiate. If there is one thing noted as a conceptual arch for revenge (by Iran) it is the death of 165 little girls on the first day of "Epic Fury".  I have viewed one particular video - quite lengthy - of family members going through the school satchels of the little girls. Small books are pulled out, feminine little things carried by a small girl, childish attempts at calligraphy... even a handful of small stones, probably picked up by a small child as she traveled to school.  But there is something else.  Hecuba has howled.  And it is scenes of maternal anguish which are keeping the creature both hungry and on the prowl.

Each day - we awaken to new realities.  And as always, may God sustain and keep our oathkeepers safe as they go about their duties.