This Century's 'Sarajevo Moment'

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This Century's 'Sarajevo Moment'

Independent Australia
24 Mar 2026, 06:00 GMT+

'The assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei and the attack on Iran launched on February 28 by the U.S. and Israel may well prove to be this Centurys "Sarajevo Moment",'writesDr John Jiggens.

When you watch the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth,announcing Operation Epic Fury, his surprise attack on the citizens of Iran, you observe a performance crafted to mirror his vision of almost unlimited American power.

Hegseth presented himself as a God of War, the God of the Old Testament, righteously raining down fire and brimstone on the wicked people of Iran. His speech pictured the Iranians cowering, fearfully scanning the sky above in shock and awe at the godlike demonstration of power he had unleashed.

The Secretary of War boasted:

Why was the Secretary of War sounding so unhinged, bragging like he was some malevolent supervillain from a Superman spin-off, as he exulted in the enormous destructive power he was unleashing on tens of millions of innocent people? Why the Old Testament undertones? He continued, mocking the Iranians. He conceded that the governing council might select a successor to Ayatollah Khamanei (whom he had murdered), but it wouldnt matter. Any successor would be too terrified to occupy a room with everyone else.

Secretary of War Hegseth bragged:

Sarcasm was the weapon Hegseth employed next:

Looks like POTUS got him twice, he joked.

If Hubris had another name, it would be Pete Hegseth.

The Sarajevo Moment

Theassassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austo-Hungarian throne, in Sarajevo in June 1914, lit the spark for World War One. An estimated 20 million people died in that conflagration.

The assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei and the attack on Iran launched on February 28 by the U.S. and Israel may well prove to be this Centurys Sarajevo Moment. The war is spreading as it metastasises, dragging in more countries around the region, destabilising the entire globe.

The new Supreme Leader of Iran witnessed his mother, his father, his wifeand his children murdered in a surprise attack launched under the guise of peace talks. This is not going to produce a happy ending.

Trumps war of choice against Iran is joining up with two pre-existing wars in the Middle East and in Eastern Europe. The powers that created Israel, the UK, France and the US will form Israels tag team. Russia, China, North Korea and Pakistan will be drawn in to defend Iran and maintain the balance of power.

The strategic competition will involve eight nuclear powers: the UK, France, USA and Israel on one side, pitted against another four nuclear powers, Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan. Israel has gambled heavily on this war. The prize it seeks is huge. It wants to expand its borders to buildGreater Israeland emerge as the hegemonic power of the Middle East. Like Samson, it believes it has the option of bringing the entire world tumbling down.

Trumps war is proving so unpopular thatmore than halfthe U.S. population oppose it. Operation Epic Fury has been popularly renamed "Operation Epstein Fury", because many think Trump cynically started the war to distract attention from the Epstein Files, while others believe the Israelis are blackmailing Trump with them.

Who wanted this war?

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has dreamed of this war for 40years. He sees it as his legacy. As Prime Minister of Israel, he is the one piloting the Chariot of War that is wrecking the world. Donald Trump is his panicking passenger.

Who else wanted the war?

Zionists who plan to createGreater Israel. Christian Zionists who believe the destruction of Iran will hasten the End Times. Trumps Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, is one of several Christian Zionists in Trumps inner circle. Among this inner circle, a quasi-religious cult exists who believe Trump is anointed by Jesus for a divine mission: that Trump is destined to play a pivotal role in the End Times.

Mike Huckabee, the former Baptist pastor who is now the US Ambassador to Israel, is another powerfulmember of the cult. Since Netanyahu compared Trump toCyrus the Greatthe Persian king who freed Jews from Babylonian exile Huckabee and others have taken to referring to Trump as Cyrus the Great. When Trump moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, Israel banners proclaimed, Cyrus the Great is alive!.

For non-evangelicals, these Cyrus-Trump prophecies should be rightfully regarded as frightening. They centre on Trumps role inImmanentising the Eschaton, hastening Armageddon, signalling the return of Jesus and the end of the world.

Christian Zionism infects the US military command. At the start of Operation Epic Fury, over 200 complaints were made to theMilitary Religious Freedom Foundationabout commanders telling troops the Iran war was Gods divine plan to trigger Armageddon and Jesus return.

Another NCO reported a briefing where the commander urged, Tell your troops this is all part of Gods divine plan. The Commander then said that Revelations revealed Donald J. Trump was anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran.

As a narcissist Trump was easily seduced by such flattery. Netanyahu and Christian Zionist like Hegseth convinced him it would be a short war, and one that was religiously ordained. "With God on his side", Trump launched their holy war, believing it would be a cake walk for the United States.A viable response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was not considered. There were no concerns about how low interceptor missile stocks were. The U.S. and Israel would simply fly in and blow Iran away in four days and four nights, like Yahweh in scripture. Gods servants would cleanse the evil land with fire and brimstone and await Irans inevitable surrender. A short campaign of shock and awe would energise the Presidents base. A speedy victory like Venezuela promised another sugar-hit for Trump's plummeting polls.

The war was launched on a delusion and a prayer. The date for the attack was chosen to coincide with the Jewish festival ofPurim. (Yahweh would appreciate that!). Fire and brimstone would rain down on Iran for four days and four nights. Israel would win, then Jesus would return.

It was magical thinking.

What is happening is Rupture, not Rapture. MAGA is splitting. The longed-for Nobel Peace Prize is looking even further out of reach. Trump has one more war to end, but he doesnt know how.

As the godlike intoxication of military slaughter wears off, Trump is realising how hideously mistaken his decision was. He is searching for an off ramp but there is none.

God save us all.

DrJohn Jiggensis a writer and journalist currently working in the community newsroom atBay-FMin Byron Bay.