What about the Houthis?

By Rich Kozlovich

There's been a lot of talk about how Iranians feel about Israel's attack on Iran, going in both directions, some claim they're in favor of these attacks, and others claiming they're not going to do anything to overthrow this regime with some claiming Iranians are doing fine economically.   Well, I have a rule.... Everything is the Basics... and I find it hard to believe they're all doing so well.   

There are chants in Tehran "Death to Khamenei", but in Europe there are pro-Iran demonstrations.  However, one group, Femme Azadi, a woman's rights group, says supporting the Iranian government isn't supporting the people, they're supporting executioners.   The facts seem to support the idea Iranians feel these attacks by Israel against the government is in support of the Iranian people actually creating a bond between them. 

One Iranian professor stated:

"The future of this country is in your hands, you are the future. Sometimes the bright days would come after the challenges a nation faced for decades. Light will triumph over darkness soon"...

And it appears that's the mentality of the Iranian diaspora, with both Israeli and the Iran flags being carried at demonstrations.  While the general population in Iran still fears these monsters, they seem to view all this as a "call for freedom and mutual understanding strengthens ties..... a  surprising camaraderie transcends political divides, setting a foundation for future relationships."  

While Israel and Trump have scored huge successes, and Iran is seriously weakened, the fact remains, they didn't finish the job.  Trump's desire for a diplomatic solution isn't that far removed from the mentality of his predecessors, Obama and George H. W. Bush, which is why this is happening now, and could very well have to be repeated if the Iranians don't organize and overthrow these fanatics.  In the meanwhile no matter what Europe's leaders may be saying publicly, they love the fact Israel is doing the dirty work they won't do, and in point of fact helped to create.  That way when things get too touchy they can blame Israel.  

All geopolitics are based on three main things, geographics, demographics, and economics.  Plus two other factors that are desperately difficult to control, foundational social paradigms and the happiness factor.  

So, lets get back to the economics of all this.  Iran spent untold billions on their insane desire to attain nuclear weapons, and all that was wiped out in less than two weeks, and this whole nuclear mess has been an economic anchor slowing diminishing Iran's economy.  They're also wasted billions on their proxy terrorist movements like Hamas and Hezbollah, and that's been crushed.  The resulting sanctions over they years has cost Iran between $2 trillion and $3 trillion.  Their GDP shrunk dramatically, inflation is rising, their currency is losing value, and there are shortages of all the basics.   I don't really think Iranians are all that happy.  

Syria officially remains silent on all of this, but Syria is by no means stable and the Islamic Liberation Front launched rockets into the Golan Heights.  Nonetheless, Iran's Islamic neighbors are happy they're being crushed, no matter what public stand they may be taking.  

Now, what about the Houthis?  Iran has been their financial benefactor for years, and now that's going to dry up.  But the Houthis are not so much a political movement as a criminal gang and criminal gangs need to meet payroll.  They will most likely embrace piracy and drug smuggling.  How that's dealt with will be interesting to watch.  

So, since I only have one paragraph about the Houthis why did I use them in the title? Because while they're small, they're representative of the mentality of larger Islamic movements and nations, and that enhances the understanding as to what they world has to deal with.