News from Baghdad – the hidden war

Introduction
*”The centers of power and control, and the interests of policymakers in the United States, dedicate all their media, artistic, cinematic, and literary platforms to manipulating minds to achieve their goals through a policy of disinformation — a cornerstone of their indoctrination system. Lies are the norm, and truth is the exception, carefully controlled within the framework of the so-called “democratic” system.

Those who engage with truth are contained, labelled as terrorists, marginalized, or even assassinated. The environment they create blends intimidation and obfuscation into the very fabric of their culture, protecting the economic and political interests of the powerful forces within America and around the world.

In this system, lying and its exaggeration are not merely a method but the essence of its very structure. Between these extremes, truth is tossed back and forth like a volleyball between two teams. In other words, lies and exaggeration form the foundation of ideology and shape the identity of citizens and the general public worldwide.

Exaggeration through lies requires a “narrative that is acceptable and readily adopted.” This means presenting falsehoods within a story that links multiple threads in a sequence palatable to the audience, even if it contradicts the facts on the ground.

People do not respond only to facts; they respond to narratives that give “facts” symbolic meaning aligned with political and economic agendas. Political imagination acquires meaning by producing ideological connotations: wars are presented as liberation, exploitation as opportunity, and killings as necessary byproducts.

Thus, the lie gains moral legitimacy. In such an environment, truth is judged not by credibility but by its acceptance and circulation among people. The truthful person often loses in debates because they are bound by the facts, while the liar can say anything (Dostoevsky).*

I received a call early this morning from my old friend Louay Al-Zaher, the editor of the Iraqi Beacon. Louay is visiting his mother in Baghdad and cannot return home to Australia, as there are literally no flights out of the city.

While there may be a ceasefire in Iran, in neighbouring Iraq, there is definitely no pause in the violence. During our conversation, Louay was also listening to reports from Lebanon, where conflict has erupted and the Israelis are causing widespread death and destruction.

Despite the lack of public services the unavailability of medicines and general chaos, Louay tried to put on a brave face. He is a long-term journalist and writer, and also an artist, with several very interesting pieces to his name.

During our call, I could hear explosions in the background. I asked if he was concerned, and he said that having been involved in so many wars, he doesn’t really care anymore.

But I am worried about my old friend. Ian Curr, Editor , April 2026

Here is what Louay Al-Zaher has to say:

“This fierce war waged by Russia against America and its allies in Ukraine is the central issue, and its outcome will determine the state of conflict zones and areas of tension around the world.

As for Trump’s America, it’s like a gambler whose stakes increase with every loss; if it stays, its losses will increase, and if it withdraws, it will lose. Wherein lies the secret that explains Trump’s contradictory behaviour. The most important factor troubling Trump is domestic politics.

If the Republicans lose the midterm elections, it will lead to impeachment proceedings and even his imprisonment. This is one aspect that explains all of Trump’s positions and actions on the international stage. In other words, his decisions and policies are subject to the logic of the elections. Clearly, the results of these elections will not be in his favour, so Trump needs a severe international crisis to win over the American people and as a pretext for declaring martial law and cancelling the elections

Gaza: A Humanitarian Catastrophe and a Political Catalyst; Gaza remains a focal point of regional and global turmoil, representing a global awakening and a measure of national and humanitarian values, as well as the resolve to oppose Zionism.

The horrific killings, the widespread death, and the suffering of the Palestinian people have exposed the complicity of Arab and Islamic regimes with the Zionist entity, as well as the policies of the West and its conspiracy against Palestine through killing and destruction. Finally, there is the so-called “Gaza Peace Council,” ironically named the “Gaza Peace Council,” chaired by Trump!

Iraq: The economic and political aspects

The economy is entering it’s most dangerous phase, not only because of the accelerated commercial sabotage orchestrated by the mindset controlling the economy, which has led to the lifting of restrictions on the influx of goods from all directions under the guise of trade liberalization. This openness was not the result of economic feasibility studies that would support and protect domestic production. It is a planned process of exploitation. Markets have been flooded with all kinds of scrap, from electrical goods to foodstuffs, turning the country into a vast warehouse for the unsold products of exporting nations, not to mention luxury and consumer goods. This policy has another facet: the increased demand for dollars to cover shipments of goods. This, in turn, raises the value of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar, resulting in further impoverishment of citizens and the imposition of more taxes that burden everyone. If we examine this process, this economic policy, closely, we will see that it is moving in one direction only: importing without exporting! Ironically, one aspect of this policy is to fuel the production cycles of countries exporting to Iraq, ultimately leading to a drain on the economy’s cash flow, which disrupts investment in domestic projects. Thus, the government contributes to the loss of financial security and makes the country hostage to global price fluctuations and the will of foreign suppliers.

Ukraine

Due to low wages, a common feature of the Soviet economy, and one of the reasons for its decline was the widespread theft by workers of anything they could get their hands on in their workplaces. At the same time, secrecy was a fundamental requirement in military-industrial factories, which officially produced civilian goods but did not actually do so in practice.

The joke: Ivan, a washing machine factory worker, used to complain to his wife: “I steal various spare parts from my factory, but whenever I try to put those parts together to make a washing machine, I end up assembling a Kalashnikov rifle.”

I keep recalling that joke whenever I follow Trump’s efforts for peace in Ukraine. The West, and Trump personally, are twisting and turning like a snake, desperately trying to force Russia into defeat, sometimes calling it a settlement, sometimes peace, sometimes concessions from Ukraine, or even its surrender. But, like the Soviet worker Ivan in the joke above, they always end up with a Kalashnikov rifle, they end up offering Russia surrender, no matter how Trump changes his plan or the list of participants in the negotiations.

Cuba

On April 6–7, 2026, a fuel tanker truck exploded at a fuel supply facility beneath the Bridge of the Americas, the major road bridge spanning the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal near Panama City.

The blast triggered a large fire and multiple secondary explosions as flames spread to nearby tankers. Thick black smoke and a massive fireball were visible in footage from the scene. (People.com⁠)

During our conversation, Louay Al-Zaher claimed that there is a hidden war unfolding — one involving the United States, Russia, and China, with China playing an economic role, and Russia assisting Iran with its advanced missile technology.

He also mentioned Cuba, suggesting that, in his view, this recent Panama explosion was the work of Cubans. Louay described this as another hidden incident, unreported in mainstream media, and implied that there may already be a covert conflict occurring between the United States and Cuba.

Louay Al-Zaher

26 March 2026

امريكا؛ التظليل الاعلامي، قيمها العقائدية، الأكاذيب وسردياتها المختلقة