Greetings and welcome back to this week's edition of Laura's Links.
I'm putting the final touches on this column as the Purim holiday comes to an end. I had a feeling it was going to be a different kind of Purim this year and I was right. Some of the ingredients were the same as always; giving small packets of food, giving charity, reading the Scroll of Esther and having a festive meal. I also, as usual, made Hamentaschen cookies with my kids - but maybe this year I should have called them Khomenitaschen? Anyway, obviously, everything else has been extraordinary.
Mark has written a lot this week about the war, and members of The Mark Steyn Club have been very vocal about their position(s). It has understandably been one of the most talked about and contentious topics raised in our comment section, perhaps even the most highly contentious one in recent memory. A lot of people have mentioned the "fog of war", and there seems to be a bit of a consensus that it could be too early to tell what's actually happening among the reported stories and propaganda. I also believe it's way too early to be making blanket statements about what is really happening on the ground, and how this is going to go.
Everyone rightfully has an opinion, and hopefully, it will be possible to keep discussions civil, in real life and within our commentariat ranks.
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On a sort of related note, I recently finished reading a very interesting book that a friend gave me called "The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War" by Ben Macintyre (Broadway Books: 2018). It is indeed a spectacular story that I hadn't heard of before I read the book and I highly recommend it to you. I read most of it over the past couple of Sabbaths, so I couldn't highlight anything but I dog-marked a whole bunch of things that were great food for thought. There's too many interesting things and quotes to list, but here's something that I specifically wanted to share with you.
The spy for the West, Oleg Gordievsky, was the highest ranking KGB officer who was a British intelligence asset. After being in the service of the Brits for a number of years, he received a thank you letter from Maurice Oldfield, the most senior spy in Britain. In return, he wrote the following testimony:
"I must emphasize that my decision is not the result of irresponsibility or instability of character on my part. It has been preceded by a long spiritual struggle and by agonizing emotion, and an even deeper disappointment at developments in my own country and my own experiences have brought me to the belief that democracy, and the tolerance of humanity that follows it, represent the only road for my country, which is European in spite of everything. The present regime is the antithesis of democracy to an extent which Westerners can never fully grasp. If a man realizes this, he must show the courage of his convictions and do something himself to prevent slavery from encroaching further upon the realms of freedom."
These are historic times.
We will be much wiser (hopefully) in the coming days and weeks.
Have a great weekend and see you in the comments.
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North America:
Instapundit: Cutting off the head of the snake.
Related: "I got him before he got me."
"The Dallas Fort Worth area." This guy is funnnnnnay.
Like Ezra Levant says: "Our new country is amazing."
RELATED: "Through the investigation, officers identified the driver as Qais Mohammad Nayef Zghool, 29, of London."
Not a single drop of civilized blood or a single red cent should have been wasted on these savage, disgusting barbarians.
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Iran:
"I want to say something to those who are talking about Iran, about Iranians, about attacking it."
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Britain:
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Australia:
This seems fine.
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Israel and Jews:
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Kooks N Trans:
ALWAYS THE ONES YOU LEAST SUSPECT.
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Human Grace:
"We all have these Esther moments."
Thank you to this woman for explaining something that happened to me for the better part of my childhood and adult life.
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH: "Instead of severing friendships with people who don't share your politics, just talk to them about other things. Remember other things?"
It's open thread time! Log into SteynOnline and let Laura know what you think of these stories or other happenings from the week that was. Commenting privileges are among the many perks of membership in The Mark Steyn Club. While going off topic is permitted on Laura's Links, do stick to the other rules as you engage: no URLs, no profanity, and no ad hominem attacks.
