Transcription
Hi everyone, I'm Nicholas Yang.
In this Iran-Iraq war, the first shot was fired by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. There are rumors that Khamenei's dentist is actually a Mossad agent, who followed him for years and implanted a tracker in his tooth in advance. So, he was taken out in one shot.
Speaking of which, I suddenly want to research this Israeli assassin and finally found out let the leader go first. He is actually not an Israeli invention. This is actually the Middle East, a non-material cultural heritage of over 1,400 years. Hameini was taken out, which is his destiny, because of the 12 Imams of the Shia sect. All 11 were sent away like this. We don't know if the last one, Mahdi, was taken out. Anyway, the person cannot be found. So everyone says, "This is called a great retreat. He will come back later." It is estimated that he was taken out.
In fact, in ancient times, there was another organization in the Middle East specifically for sending away the top leaders. Called Hassassin. Their bloodline still exists today. Is the grand master of Switzerland. With a net worth of over 10 billion US dollars. So today we are going to study this. In addition to studying this today, we will also focus on answering a more important question: Can eliminating a country's leader physically really win a war? The answer to this may be completely different from what everyone thinks.
In modern warfare, the primary goal of targeted killing is not to make the target disappear, but to make everyone who is alive afraid. Just think about it, if a group of senior commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are afraid to use their phones, are afraid to use pagers, and now even dentists are afraid to see them, afraid of being taken out as soon as they step outside, what is the outcome of this? The Iranian command system is basically paralyzed. The effect of Israel doesn't need to send 10,000 soldiers to the front. Just a few special agents can keep the enemy leaders living in endless fear. Reset the decision-making efficiency of the entire organization.
However, this targeted elimination was not invented by Israel. It is a tradition in the Middle East. Arabs are extremely skilled in this aspect. In the 12th century, there was also a specialized organization for assassins called the Hashashin. Hashashin is the origin of the English word 'assassin'. In ancient Chinese texts, they were called 'Mula Yi'. Leading the Hashashin, the mysterious figure of Hashashin is also known as the Old Man of the Mountain. He appears like an old shepherd living in the mountains, seemingly harmless to humans and animals alike. But with a single turn, he can make a king's head roll.
In Marco Polo's travelogue, there is a story about a mountain hermit named Aladdin who follows Islam. He built a magnificent garden in a picturesque valley between two high mountains with rivers flowing with wine, milk, honey, and clear water, inhabited by beautiful maidens. Why are there beautiful women in the valley? Liu Yu's 'Records of the Western Regions' also mentions indulging in desires for several days. Upon awakening in his former residence, he asked what he had seen. "If taught to kill assassins, he would enjoy such blessings." His intention is that when many young men enter this valley, they can see many beautiful women having fun. Then they themselves join in the fun with them, as if they have entered paradise. At this point, the young man indulges with these beauties. Slept for several days. After waking up from the drunkenness, suddenly saw an old man appear in the mountains, and then the beauty and wine were all gone. So the old man asked, "Do you still want to experience the joy of heaven? If you do, then join our organization, the Hashashin. After that, you can continue to enjoy the happiness of heaven."
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Let's continue talking about this old man in the mountains. His name is Hassan Sabbah. In the 12th century, there was an empire called the Seljuk Empire, which ruled over Iran and Iraq. Its sultan, also known as the king, was named Saladin. He sent a large army to wipe out the mountain hermits. As he was preparing to gather his troops and depart at night, the sultan suddenly woke up from his dream. He turned his head, just spotted someone coming out of the tent. He took a closer look and realized the lantern inside the tent had been moved, and there was a plate by the bed filled with warm cakes, but with a poisonous dagger stuck on top with a note attached to the handle saying, "You are in our control now. If you don't immediately withdraw from our siege, the dagger will find its way into your chest next time." The person who left the note is the old man in the mountains, Hassan Sabbah. When Sultan saw this, wow, his whole body felt a chill. He immediately shouted, "After withdrawing the troops." Sultan Saladin even sent gifts to reconcile with the old man in the mountains. In the end, they even became allies, joining forces to resist the Crusades' Eastern Expedition.
So the core of this story is: Sometimes fear is more useful than death. Israel really doesn't need to lift a finger now. He just needs to let some Middle Eastern fanatics leaders know that if they want to enjoy the 72 virgins of paradise, we can send them on their way at any time. This Middle Eastern assassin's ancestor, the old man in the mountains, back then, he had a castle right in Iran, surrounded by cliffs, called Alamut. This is all true. It means 'Eagle's Nest'. Warriors trained by the hermit in the mountains, called Fidayeen, meaning 'sacrificer'. These people started infiltrating, even months ago, or even years ago, into the courts of the nobles, just waiting for the hermit's orders. Assassinate immediately, and no one can survive. They know their fate. Assassins all end up like this. But they still choose to do it. Just like in China. China calls these people death warriors. In ancient China, raising death warriors is a very sophisticated political skill. But the old man in the mountains raises death warriors.
There are significant differences between the ninja in Japan and the ancient Chinese assassins. The hermits in the mountains mainly paint pies. But in ancient China, assassins were indeed paid. The giving of gifts is recorded in the Biography of Assassins in Shiji. Countless assassins were documented, such as Yu Rang, Zhuan Zhu, Jing Ke, and so on. These lords were the core of recruiting assassins at that time. The principle was simple: 'Gratitude as heavy as a mountain.' In ancient China, powerful officials were known for their influential positions. Specifically targeting desperadoes with no way out, or those with exceptional skills, but some people who have suffered humiliation at the bottom of society. The lord quickly brings them back and treats them as honored guests, drinking and chatting with them every day, saying, "You are my confidant, you are my buddy," and so on. Then, if these people's mothers get sick or something, the lord personally brews medicine for them, then sends it to their home. When these guests saw how kind their lord was to me, "I am willing to die for a loyal friend." After that, there appeared the story of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin.
However, the old man in the mountains of the Middle East is different. In China, before the loyal warriors die, they enjoy the glory and wealth bestowed by their lord. And after death, he doesn't need to worry about his family either. The lord has taken care of everything for you. You can rest assured and go boldly. This old man in the mountains of Iran, he simply gives these fidayeen an empty promise. Tell them, "You can go to heaven after you die and enjoy 72 virgins." This is very impressive. Dedicated to faith with purity. Very low cost.
Now let me tell you all about how this mountain hermit recruits young people as assassins. You can also check out the previous episode I talked about. Very similar to the brainwashing process of this spiritual course. The first young person recruited must undergo absolute physical isolation. The hermit in the mountains specifically selects the most devout, young people with no social experience, like blank sheets of paper. They were kept in a castle on the mountaintop since childhood, isolated from the world. And then subjected to Spartan-style high-intensity training. These individuals not only train in combat but also in mental resilience. What's even more impressive is they have to learn various languages, as well as court etiquette, and even delve into profound theological debates. Why? He just uses various means to get close to the target. A successful fida'i needs to disguise himself as a devout monk or pretend to be an elegant merchant, and he has to infiltrate. Once infiltrated, it could be several years. Absolutely cannot reveal the stuffing.
But in this set of skills, the most crucial is psychological construction. When an assassin carries out an assassination, fear is definitely not an option. An assassin without faith, in the end, is like Qin Wuyang in the story of Jing Ke's assassination of King Qin. As recorded in 'Strategies of the Warring States', as soon as he saw this king of Qin, his face immediately turned pale with fear, unable to utter a word. But the assassins trained by the hermit in the mountains are different. They strive every day to excel. Intense scripture prayers, continuously chanting this way, continuously using these theological suggestions on oneself, saying that this reality world is the dirtiest, full of suffering, while the old man in the mountains holds the only key to heaven. Carry out the mission according to his command. Not about dedication, not about sacrifice. The only way to heaven is when a young man believes deeply that as long as his dagger strikes the target's vital point and he falls in that moment under the chaotic blades of the guards, his soul can immediately enter the garden of heaven. Those who have this idea are invincible in this world.
At that time, there was a ruler in the Seljuk Empire named Vizier Nizam Mulluk. He said a sentence at that time: "The stability of the empire depends on the prime minister's ink bottle. If I close this ink bottle, the crown will collapse." October 14, 1092. Nizam sat in a sedan chair rushing from Isfahan to Baghdad. On the way, they encountered an ascetic monk named Sufi Wanderer. They are the mystical sect of Islam, very much like the people who dance spinning in Turkey. At that time, after the vizier Nizam encountered this ascetic, he wanted to ask him some secrets of the universe. As a result, this person slowly approached the vizier, and then suddenly pulled out a dagger in an instant, and immediately wiped the vizier's neck. Afterwards, the assassin was chopped into minced meat by the guards on the spot, but the hermit in the mountains didn't care. Because the effect has already been achieved. This person has also ascended to heaven. One month after the death of the vizier Nizam, the Sultan of the Seljuk Empire was also poisoned to death. The entire empire suddenly became leaderless, entering a 25-year period of chaos. So this Hasan is very powerful. One assassination, collapse of an empire. This is the power of an assassin.
The old man in the mountains, Hassan, and his two successors, issued a total of 75 orders for targeted removal. Each time, they sent away kings, nobles, and religious leaders. But they never harmed the common people. Because harming the common people was of no use, had no value. So, all the leaders of the Seljuk Empire at that time were in a state of panic. So there was a judge at that time. When visiting the Mongol Khan, I wore this armor all over my body. The Khan asked, "Why are you still wearing this?" He replied, "I have to wear it all the time, because the Hashashin could come at any moment." So this old man from the mountains is still the king of assassins from the Middle East. He's especially formidable. Mastering a shadow assassin army is also very difficult. He hardly left his cliff fortress in 45 years. And his two sons, for committing murder and alcoholism, he directly had these two sons executed. Very ruthless.
Although Hassassin is so powerful, in the face of absolute force, they were wiped out in an instant. In the year 1256, the Mongol army launched a western expedition and attacked Alamut. This castle quickly fell, and the Hashashins were wiped out. But their descendants are still around today, known as the Ismaili Muslims of Islam. There are approximately 15 million people globally today. Their highest leader is called Aga Khan V. He is the 50th Imam after the Old Man of the Mountain. But now he is Swiss. His total assets are 13.3 billion US dollars. The Ismaili sect he leads is somewhat like Tibetan Buddhism, seeking hidden truths and hidden secrets. Moreover, they are very peaceful, especially enthusiastic about promoting charity, healthcare, and education. After all, their leader is Swiss. Must be neutral. This is very interesting.
Speaking of this religious leader, this Imam, I just want to mention the tragic situation of this Shia Imam. After the Prophet Muhammad passed away in 632 AD, followed by four caliphs, called the caliph. Among these four, three were assassinated. A caliph named Omar, he was stabbed to death by a Persian slave with a dagger. One named Osman, was attacked by rebels and directly hacked at home. The fourth one called Ali, while he was praying in the Grand Mosque, an assassin suddenly appeared, holding a poisoned sword, and stabbed it in with a click. Two days later, this Ali died. So the Islamic caliph, the probability of abnormal death is 75%. This is shocking.
But it's just the beginning. The core belief of the Shia sect in Iran is the Twelve Imams, descendants of Prophet Muhammad. There are a total of 12 descendants. I mentioned before, Iran is now waiting for the twelfth Imam, the return of the Mahdi. The previous 11 Imams were all killed. But the twelfth Imam, the Mahdi, his disappearance cannot be called killed. It's called the Greater Occultation. If we don't talk about mysticism, or that the Mahdi was taken away by aliens and will come back after 1,000 years, in fact, we can speculate he might have been taken out by an assassin. As long as the top leader is assassinated, it's their destiny. It's like Ayatollah Khomeini and his son. How the 11 Imams of the Shia were killed is very interesting. One was poisoned by his own wife, another was surrounded and wiped out by rebels, and there were also those who were poisoned to death in prison. In any case, none of them had a peaceful end. There was an Imam named Hassan. He said a sentence before he died: "There is not a single person in our family who has not been killed or poisoned." This sentence is like a curse. Look again after 1,400 years, and you will find that Iran is also falling into this political whirlpool generation after generation.
So Israel has been continuously using targeted killings in recent years. Actually, there's nothing special about this. But recently, a Chinese expert publicly stated that historically, the goal of warfare was not to kill the leader. This is considered unethical. It's also very dangerous. Everyone can tell him killing the leader is a non-material cultural heritage of the Arab world since ancient times. Do you not understand phrases like 'capture the ringleader first'? Joking aside.
But here's the question: Does killing the boss really work? To answer this question, we need to broaden our perspective to the whole world. I've selected three cases, each with a different answer. When combined, they form a complete logical chain.
The first case is the assassination of Caesar. On the fifteenth of March, 44 BC, the Romans called this day the Ides of March. Before this, there was another prophet who warned Caesar saying, "Beware the Ides of March." On the day Caesar had predicted, he even met this prophet on the way, jokingly saying, "Look, the Ides of March have come, haven't they? Am I still doing fine?" The prophet just said one thing: "The Ides of March has come, but it has not yet passed." The Roman historian Suetonius in his 'Twelve Caesars' recorded what happened next. Caesar wanted to be emperor, so he entered the Senate House to discuss this matter with everyone. He had just taken his seat when, at that moment, there was a senator named Tullius Cimber who approached Caesar pretending to hand him a petition. Caesar was just about to read it when suddenly over 60 senators rushed forward. Then Cimber suddenly grabbed Caesar's robe and pulled it down. When Caesar looked down, he was shocked. He said it was violence. And then came the first blow. He is the elder Cassca, stabbed towards Caesar's neck with a dagger, but missed the vital spot. Caesar quickly grabbed his arm and performed this grappling move. But everyone immediately rushed forward, followed by the second strike, the third strike, the fourth strike. Daggers coming from all directions. Plutarch wrote in his biography of famous people, the scene was chaotic. The executioners even mistakenly injured their own people. Caesar was still resisting at first. But when he saw his disciples and friends, including Brutus, among the crowd, Caesar became disheartened. He no longer resisted. Suddenly, he covered his face with his robe. Then the senators rushed forward. Caesar fell under Pompey's statue. Shakespeare wrote about Caesar's last moments: "Et tu, Brute? You too, Brutus?" There is another version about Brutus: Caesar's last words were in Greek: "Kai su, teknon. You too, my child." Caesar was truly very disappointed at that time. Caesar was truly very disappointed at that time. Everyone betrayed him. After Caesar's death, the senators rushed out of the Senate, shouting in the streets, "People of Rome, we are free again!" Although it's freedom, but what happened in the end? Caesar's historian Suetonius recorded: These senators were all sentenced to death, dying in different ways. Some died in hardships, some died on the battlefield, while others used the same dagger against Caesar, ended their own lives. Brutus, a disciple of Caesar, also committed suicide two years later, left behind a legacy of virtue before dying. In the end, you are just an empty name. This is also incredibly disappointing. After Caesar's death, Rome did not restore the republic, resulting in another emperor emerging named Augustus. So sometimes the fate of history seems predetermined. You pull out one nail, the trend of history will find the next nail by itself. Nails keep appearing.
The second very famous case is the spark of World War I, the Sarajevo incident. June 28, 1914, a Serbian youth named Gavrilo Princip, part of the Young Bosnia movement, fired two shots on the streets of Sarajevo, assassinating the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife. Six weeks later, the First World War broke out. Over a period of four years, 20 million people died. During World War I, Europe was a powder keg. All the great powers were in an arms race. Each major country was waiting for an excuse to start a war. So, without the two bullets that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, other bullets would have been fired. The assassin thought he had taken out one person to solve a problem, but it ended up triggering a chain reaction. That's how history goes, always repeating itself. So today's history could be repeating itself. He is the case of the assassination of Soleimani. Now the US is attacking Iran. It may not end well. They are now preparing to send ground troops to attack Iran. I wonder when this war will end.
The Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, how did it finally end? The key was that Iran's top leader at the time, Ayatollah Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader, was still the president back then. When Iran could no longer hold on, Khomeini said a sentence, "I feel like I have drunk a cup of poison." Then he declared surrender. Then the Iranian Revolutionary Guard stopped fighting. But this time was different. Ayatollah Khomeini passed away. His son also became a vegetable. The whole country lost its Supreme Leader. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps split into more than 30 armed factions fighting each other. The United States originally wanted to take down a Supreme Leader, but now they realize the supreme leader has split into more than 30 warlords, and they keep launching missiles towards Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Bahrain has also fired missiles. Now even Europe, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are preparing for war. This Gulf War 2.0 is about to break out soon. History will never simply repeat itself. History always rhymes.
So this targeted elimination of it will give rise to three uncontrollable entities, this side effect. The first one is called the Hydra Effect. In Greek mythology, there is a nine-headed serpent called Hydra. If you cut off one of its heads, two more will grow back. So when this top leader is gone, what happens next? His successor, to prove their legitimacy, may need to be tougher. I'll take over. Taking out one. One is even more extreme, even crazier.
The second side effect is the myth effect. Dead people are actually more dangerous than living ones. The living Khamenei is an old man. While the fallen Khamenei, he is the immortal martyr. The remaining hardliners in Iran now, if you think every day to avenge this Khamenei, that might be the case in the future. The situation in the Iran Middle East region is more complicated.
The third one has a side effect called the total war effect. Here I want to talk about a negative example. It was the Pacific War in the United States in 1945. General MacArthur wanted to bomb Tokyo at that time and send Emperor Hirohito of Japan away. But in the end, the United States did not do so at that time. The US government had anthropologists write a report, which later became a book called 'The Chrysanthemum and the Sword'. The core idea in it is that Japanese soldiers shouted 'banzai' every day, charging to their deaths. They were fearless. This was because the Emperor commanded them to do so. In the minds of the Japanese people, the Emperor is not a human being. He is a living god. If the United States had removed the emperor at that time, these 100 million Japanese people would immediately start a devastating fight, called 'All People Shattered'. They would directly confront the US military nationwide, endlessly. If the Japanese people didn't hear the emperor's order to surrender, they would fight the US military until only one person remained. So the United States studied this matter at that time. We've decided to spare the life of the Japanese Emperor. But we must use this atomic bomb to scare him, forcing him to personally broadcast the declaration of surrender to the nation. During World War II, as soon as the Japanese military heard the Emperor's surrender, they immediately laid down their weapons. There was no resistance, fully cooperating with American supervision of Japan. This also shaped the present-day Japan, the U.S.-Japan alliance, absolute cooperation. So sometimes, not taking action requires more wisdom than taking action.
So from this assassin, from the Hashashin organization to the end of Khomeini, perhaps this is the fate of the Middle East. But there is still one question in the end: If eliminating a supreme leader doesn't actually solve the problem, then why does Israel still do this? Because of this, Israel, he is not just carrying out military missions. He also has a script and a prophecy. And this thing is written in their Bible. Israel has been surrounded on all sides in history. But they have taken the initiative time and time again. This is not just because of military technology, nor is it just the backing of the United States. It is because they firmly believe the land beneath their feet in Israel is arranged by God, and this battle is the final battle given to them by God.
What chilling details are written in this Bible prophecy? Why are people so frightened by it? Why is this Jewish Israel of today, the Christian United States, and the Islamic Iran, these three major religions, all focusing on this decisive battleground? Selected the same city, Jerusalem. I will explain all these hardcore content in detail on the member channel. Click to join and subscribe. You can see more underlying logic of the world. If you have any thoughts on this episode, don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Also, feel free to click the link to enter my online store nicolasyoung.com. Buy some eye patches, make your eyes more comfortable.