The Indomitable Spirit of Iranians: War, Martyrdom and National Resistance in Iran
Churchill’s Wartime Resolve and Its Echo in Iran
The Death of Ayatollah Khamenei and the Politics of Martyrdom
Karbala, Ashura and the Shia Ethos of Resistance
National Unity and the Iranian Political System
Lessons from Vietnam: The Strategy of Prolonged War
Why Iran Is Difficult to Defeat Militarily
Justice Markandey Katju examines Iran’s resistance amid the US-Israel conflict, exploring the historical ethos of martyrdom, national unity, and why many believe Iran may endure a prolonged war.
 |
The indomitable spirit of Iranians
By Justice Markandey Katju
In a historic speech on 4th June 1940 in the House of Commons, in one of Britain's darkest hours with German invasion looming, the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said :
'' We shall go on to the end. We shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.''
The same heroic spirit is being displayed by the brave Iranians in the current war waged on it by America and Israel.
The martyred Ayatollah Khameini, who refused to leave his office because he said other Iranians had nowhere to go, and perished there, is portrayed by many as today's Imam Husain who was killed in Karbala. But Imam Husain had only 72 followers ( who were also martyred with him ), whereas Iran has a population of 93 million who are almost all solidly united with the present Iranian regime. The only way to defeat Iran is to kill all of them. Is that possible?
How does one fight with a people who prefer death to surrender? The Americans and Israelis are realizing this the hard way.
The killing of Khameini has united the Iranian people and inspired them to keep fighting this war to the end.
I have already expressed my view that Iran will win this war, simply by dragging on this conflict, and fighting on till it becomes a stalemate, like the Vietnamese did in their war against America.
The same view has been expressed by others.
Iran is not Venezuela, where a quick in-and-out strike brought about a total regime change, with the new leaders succumbing to America and agreeing to become a colony of the Americans who are looting their oil. As said in my article, it is a predominantly Shia country, and Shias are taught since childhood to prefer martyrdom to surrender, like Imam Husain at Karbala, which event is commemorated every year during the day of Ashura.
Iran is fighting back with missiles and drones, hitting not only Israel but also US bases in many countries having US puppet regimes.
Unlike Venezuela and many other Latin American countries, which were invaded by ground troops, Iran is a land which is almost impossible to invade
Moreover, they are being supplied with military equipment by its partners, China and Russia, including new sophisticated equipment for downing US and Israeli aircraft.
(Justice Markandey Katju is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman of the Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own.)
