Jerusalem

Psalm 137:5.  If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

Considered holy by the three major Abrahamic religions, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, and attacked 52 times. From Egyptians to Persians, from Romans to the British, it seems every empire has tried to conquer and rule Jerusalem, in vain. 

As he sat in his box at Ford’s Theater waiting for the play to start, Abraham Lincoln reportedly said to his wife,”How I should like to visit Jerusalem sometime.”

So where is Jerusalim or, should we ask, what is Jerusalim and why is it that, thousands of years later, so many people are still not only drawn to it, but are willing to sacrifice their lives for it?

Two major factors are responsible for transition of power between empires: a major event like war, pandemic, economic collapse, and/or a natural disaster; and a major technological innovation. Major wars are fought over time and often include a defining battle that turns the tide.

Think of certain major global tension points that characterize today’s global dynamic: the US and China; China and India; US and Russia; Russia and Europe; US and Iran. Countries striving to revive their old empires initially engage in currency, trade, technology and cyber attacks to weaken their opponent, but are often forced into an actual physical war for a final resolution.

The Bible’s story of David and Goliath exemplifies a war fought through opposing concentrated forces. In a similar way, we relied on Bobby Fischer to fight the final battle of the US / USSR Cold War, on a chessboard.

Witness two current major global flash points: Jerusalem and Taiwan. 

Think of Jerusalem, certainly a harbinger of trouble, as the canary in the coal mine. For over four decades the Iranaian regime has committed itself to the destruction of Israel, and is finally close to obtaining the atomic bomb with which to do it. With Iranaians committed to delivering on this promise, Israel’s only recourse may be a first strike. In any event, this means Jerusalem is in play again.

Meanwhile, China has become intolerant of America’s presence in Taiwan, just as  America could not tolerate Russia’s presence in Cuba. While perhaps America got lucky in the Bay of Pigs, we may not get so lucky were President Xi of China to decide to cement his chances for re-election to a third term by starting a quick war, say, as a distraction from the economic woes arising from a collapse of China’s real estate market.

Not all wars are long and deadly. A war in Taiwan could be like Israel’s six day war of 1967 in which the Arabs, backed by Russia, attacked Israeli, backed by America, forever changing the balance of power in the Middle East, and ensuring the continued flow of oil to the West. Might the Israelis do it again? Will America stand behind Taiwan to ensure the continued flow of the microchips we need to run our industry? 

These are some of the existential questions facing us today, and Highland Institute is a Securus Locus to do just that.

— Sina.