Greenland declares a state of emergency as scientists link a surge in orca activity to collapsing ice, while fishermen celebrate a new gold rush and climate activists demand a total fishing ban

The morning the whales came, the harbor in Nuuk went quiet in a way that had nothing to do with silence. Motors idled low, conversations broke off mid-sentence, and a line of people abandoned their coffee cups on the dock to lean over the railings. Out there, barely a few hundred meters from the ice-streaked shore, the black-and-white backs of orcas cut through the steel-blue water like a row of moving buoys.

Someone whispered, “They’re too close.” Someone else said, “They’re late.” Above them, the mountains that used to hold a tight white collar of sea ice now showed wide, bare scars of rock. The ice had broken early.

By noon, Greenland’s government phones were ringing non-stop. By dusk, the word “emergency” was on everyone’s lips.

Greenland’s sudden crisis: more orcas, less ice, and a nation on edge

On Wednesday, Greenland’s parliament did something it almost never does: it declared a national state of emergency over the sea. Not because of a storm or a shipwreck, but because of whales, ice, and what looked like a new kind of gold rush. Along the west coast, from Nuuk to smaller fishing towns like Maniitsoq and Paamiut, reports poured in of record numbers of orcas pushing closer to shore than many elders could remember.

At the exact same time, satellite images showed something else: the coastal ice sheet had fractured early, breaking into a maze of floes that opened wide channels of water. For fishermen staring out from the docks, it felt like someone had yanked back a curtain.

On a rocky pier in the town of Qaqortoq, 46-year-old fisherman Karl “Karlu” Jensen leaned on a stack of nets and grinned at the dark fins slicing past. “They’re eating our fish,” he said, “but they’re also showing us where the fish are.” His small trawler, usually scraping by on cod, came back last week with a hold twice as full as the same time last year.

Harbor officials there logged a 38% increase in small-boat landings in just ten days, as crews rushed out to chase the dense shoals of herring and mackerel fleeing the orcas. The town’s only ice factory ran through the night, and a local shop ran out of heavy-duty coolers. People talked about “the orca bonus” over coffee, half joking, half serious.

Scientists framed the moment with a different kind of urgency. A joint Danish–Greenlandic team based in Nuuk released preliminary findings linking this surge of orcas directly to the collapse of near-shore ice structures that usually act like a cold wall. Without that wall, warmer open water extended further north, and with it came predators that once only skirted the edges.

The orcas weren’t just a curiosity; they were a symptom. Where they swam, seals shifted, fish scattered and ancient hunting routes blurred. One researcher described it as “an ecosystem being redrawn live on a shaky screen.” Policymakers saw a tempting short-term boom. Climate activists saw something closer to a final warning.

Between boom and blackout: a new Arctic “gold rush” meets a wall of protest

Within hours of the emergency declaration, Greenland’s fishing cooperatives called emergency meetings of their own. The message from many skippers was blunt: if the ocean is suddenly teeming, don’t tie our hands. Deckhands who had been eyeing layoffs were suddenly bargaining for overtime; some crews reactivated old boats that had been sitting in the snow, patching hulls with whatever they could find just to get a piece of the action.

Unofficial WhatsApp groups buzzed late into the night, swapping GPS coordinates of “crazy” shoals and sharing grainy videos of orcas corralling terrified herring against ice chunks. The mood on those threads was electric, almost defiant. For families who rely on one good season to pay winter debts, this didn’t look like a crisis. It looked like a break.

Out on the water, that rush had a rhythm you could feel in your stomach. A crew in Sisimiut told of chasing a shimmering, dense patch of mackerel that flashed like spilled mercury just beneath the surface, right behind a pod of hunting orcas. The boat’s sonar screen went black with fish. They pulled for hours, arms shaking, until the nets sagged heavy with life. The captain radioed ashore that they’d hit “three seasons in a single day.”

That story spread fast. Small lenders started getting calls about quick loans for fuel and gear. Some younger fishers described it as “our crypto moment on water” – volatile, risky, but impossible to ignore. Nobody wanted to be the one who stayed home.

Climate activists and many scientists watched this unfolding with a knot in their throat. The emergency they heard in the government’s declaration wasn’t a green light to extract more; it was a blinking red sign to hit pause. Groups like Greenpeace Nordic and local youth movements demanded an outright fishing moratorium in the hardest-hit zones, arguing that predators, prey and ice were all in shock at once.

Their argument was stark: the same collapsing ice that brought this boom also made the ecosystem more fragile than anyone fully understands. Let’s be honest: nobody really has the data to say how much fishing that new balance can take. Greenland’s cabinet is now caught between two kinds of urgency—pay the bills today, or keep the sea alive for the next generation.

How Greenland navigates this storm: emergency rules, quiet workarounds, fragile hope

The emergency decree, rushed through late at night, introduced a patchwork of temporary rules that tried to please everyone and satisfied almost no one. Fishing near key orca hunting corridors was restricted, and some zones with rapidly thinning ice were reclassified as “sensitive,” with tight catch limits and real-time monitoring. Patrol boats were ordered to log both fish hauls and whale sightings, turning every trip into a kind of floating survey mission.

Officials framed it as a “breathing space” for the ecosystem, not a full stop. The idea was simple: slow the rush just enough to see what the ocean was actually doing, without slamming the door on income. On paper, it sounded balanced. At sea, things were messier.

On the docks, fishermen talked about “paper seas” versus “real seas.” One captain quietly admitted he’d shifted his routes just outside the new restricted coordinates, gaming the lines on the map while insisting he was following the law. Another talked about refusing a lucrative haul because a pod of exhausted-looking orcas turned up in the same channel.

We’ve all been there, that moment when survival and conscience are pulling your sleeve in opposite directions. For a lot of Greenlandic families, this isn’t a theoretical debate about climate models. It’s whether the oil tank gets filled before the next blizzard. *Nobody wants to be the villain feeding on a dying ocean, but nobody wants their kids cold, either.*

In Nuuk, in a cramped meeting room that still smelled faintly of coffee and wet wool, a young activist faced a semicircle of older trawler owners and tried to compress the planet into a few shaky sentences.

“Every extra net you throw this season is like spending from a savings account that’s already past empty,” she said. “The orcas aren’t a gift. They’re a siren. If we treat this like a gold rush, we’re going to wake up broke in ways that money can’t fix.”

Her words hung in the air, somewhere between prophecy and accusation. Outside that room, officials scribbled rough compromises onto whiteboards and sticky notes, mapping out:

  • Rotating closures of the most fragile fishing grounds
  • Shorter, more tightly monitored fishing windows
  • Subsidies for crews who agree to stay in port on peak orca days

None of it felt tidy. All of it felt urgent.

A fragile frontier that belongs to all of us

Standing on a Greenlandic pier today, you’re looking at more than a local drama between whales, ice and nets. You’re watching the front line of a warming planet redraw itself in real time. Orcas are not the villains of this story, nor are the fishermen, nor the kids chaining themselves to ministry doors in Nuuk. They’re all reacting to the same collapsing certainty: that the seasons will behave the way they used to.

This moment in Greenland holds up an uncomfortable mirror. When a sudden opportunity appears in the wreckage of the climate crisis, do we grab it with both hands, or do we step back, even if it hurts, and learn a new way to live with less? The plain truth is that nobody has a perfect script for this.

What happens next—in cabinet meetings, on voting ballots, in quiet family arguments over dinner—will say a lot about how the rest of the world will handle its own “orca moments” as the ice, literal or not, gives way.

Parents of Public School Students: Do you know what their Teachers are doing with them ?

Calling-all-RushBabes

Dedicated to the Memory of the Great Rush LimbaughMenu

Search

*Parents of Public School Students: Do you know what their teachers are doing with, and to them?

Just in the past few weeks, it has come to the attention of the American People that, in many cities across the country, Teachers are taking entire classes of students out of school to demonstrate against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who are enforcing Federal Law by removing Illegal Alien Criminals from our midst. These mostly far-left teachers are also teaching their students about how to “demonstrate” against their own government, and how to act in ways that might injure them. Yes, that’s what Teachers, paid with YOUR tax money, are indoctrinating your children to do. Yeah, these “teachers.”

Here are some interesting news stories. Can you locate your own town in any of them?

SECOND-GRADERS!!!

Local to me, School District urges Teachers to oppose Federal immigration enforcement. Endanger kids much?

Hey, Waukegan, why are you indoctrinating students to be violent extremists?

The average public school student cannot read, write, or do math at grade level, and teachers are illegally endangering their lives by taking them out of class to participate in sometimes violent demonstrations against the Federal Government.

School children actually becoming violent against their neighbors. Parents, do you know that their teachers are urging them to do this? Are you aware?

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS!!!

MY State legislature is not only allowing school children to be taken out of class to protest, but wants to allow them to use EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITY ON LEARNING TIME!!!

The Seattle Public Schools, which is losing students all the time, and totally FAILING at educating the ones who are left, is encouraging the students to engage in political violence that could get them arrested or jailed. Parents, do you know what your kids are doing when they are supposed to be in class?

Local Seattle “news” station story. They approve of this.

Another local school district, fairly wealthy, allowing public school teachers to take their kids out of class to protest. ON YOUR DIME!

SPECIAL-ED KIDS USED AS FREE LABOR FOR PROTESTS!!!

My local area is a hotbed of illegal Teacher activities, taking your kids out of school to protest against immigration enforcement, with the State Legislature putting its imprimatur on that kind of activity.

Parents, have you seen enough yet? Do you approve of your Public Schools doing this to your children, on your tax dime? Are you awake yet, to the evil being done to your precious children by the Far-Left Government Education (?) system?

Parents, it is long past time for you to pull your precious offspring out of Government schools! You need to dig deep to afford home-schooling or private schools if you want your kids to get a real education, instead of indoctrination in Far-Left ideology. This is NO JOKE. The future of our entire country depends on Educated Citizens, not indoctrinated far-left zombies. Your own and your childrens’ lives are at stake here. Please consider doing this today, and not tomorrow. You don’t want to see your child in the hospital getting treated for tear-gas exposure, or dead in the morgue of a bullet wound or head trauma from being in the wrong place when he should have been in school.

PULL YOUR KIDS OUT OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS TODAY!!

Post navigation

Previous*Do they know that they are causing the breakdown of Civilization? Do they care? The Left ruins everything it touches.

NextScenes from Rural Michigan, in the Snow

4 thoughts on “*Parents of Public School Students: Do you know what their teachers are doing with, and to them?”

  1. Unknown's avatarAnonymouskids being manipulated and used as pawns. Its disgusting.Reply
    1. exactlyphilosopherce306b06de's avatarexactlyphilosopherce306b06deBingo – said it perfectly – in a lot fewer words than I do below.Reply
  2. Pingback: Instapundit » Blog Archive » AT THIS POINT, IF YOU CAN AT ALL, I’D ADVISE YOU TO HOMESCHOOL:  Parents of Public School Students
  3. exactlyphilosopherce306b06de's avatarexactlyphilosopherce306b06deScary and useful article. Excused absences for protesting? Organized and ‘egged’ own by Marxist teachers. What a farce! Kids love to get out of school – ‘play hooky’ as we used to say. And they get to march around, shout, throw things, and spew hate – and the Public School System pushes it. Wow, what a groovy vacation day off Where are the parents? The thing is, most of them have no idea what they are protesting about, they are just shouting what their peers are shouting, trying to fit out. Arrogant and obnoxious eight graders, who think they know everything, the dumbest people in the world. I should know, in 1967 that’s what I felt like – we thought we were so smart, and we were not remotely. What are they doing about it? Do the Lefty moron parents think is just so cool for the kids to march, spew hate, and throw things?It works like this. The Kids just spontaneously, in mass, walk out and go galivanting around for a ‘vacation day’ of protesting. The school then says it was all spontaneous, and the Treacher had nothing to do with it. This is of course the big lie they tell to absolve themselves or responsibility in case a kid dies their ‘groovy little protest.’ The school actually wants this to happen, and they can say they had no part in it. And the parents, either they are Leftist loons and proud of their little ‘monsters’ or they are utterly clueless.They look like a great throng of pathetic but very dangerous ‘Little Lefty American Red Guards.’ Chairman Mao would have been proud. These ‘children’ are being used by their Leftist that control the Public School System. This is just so seriously wrong. I am an old guy, and when I was in the 8th grade (that would have been 1967 – we had lots of groovy demonstrations in those days), and had been allowed to leave school for some ‘Anti-Vietnam War Demonstration’ my mother and about all of the other parents would have made sure the ‘rabble rousing’ teachers were fired and never worked again in our state. And these parents – the just sit around and go ‘duh’ or are proud of their little aspiring ‘fascist brownshirts.’ Far out man.Reply

Leave a comment

Search for:Search

Recent Posts

Archives

Archives  Select Month   February 2026    January 2026    December 2025    November 2025    October 2025    September 2025    August 2025    July 2025    June 2025    May 2025    April 2025    March 2025    February 2025    January 2025    December 2024    November 2024    October 2024    September 2024    August 2024    July 2024    June 2024    May 2024    April 2024    March 2024    February 2024    January 2024    December 2023    November 2023    October 2023    September 2023    August 2023    July 2023    June 2023    May 2023    April 2023    March 2023    February 2023    January 2023    December 2022    November 2022    October 2022    September 2022    August 2022    July 2022    June 2022    May 2022    April 2022    March 2022    February 2022    January 2022    December 2021    November 2021    October 2021    September 2021    August 2021    July 2021    June 2021    May 2021    April 2021    March 2021    February 2021    January 2021    December 2020    November 2020    October 2020    September 2020    August 2020    July 2020    June 2020    May 2020    April 2020    March 2020    February 2020    January 2020    December 2019    November 2019    October 2019    September 2019    August 2019    July 2019    June 2019    May 2019    April 2019    March 2019    February 2019    January 2019    December 2018    November 2018    October 2018    September 2018    August 2018    July 2018    June 2018    May 2018    April 2018    March 2018    February 2018    January 2018    December 2017    November 2017    October 2017    September 2017    August 2017    July 2017    June 2017    May 2017    April 2017    March 2017    February 2017    January 2017    December 2016    November 2016    October 2016    September 2016    August 2016    July 2016    June 2016    May 2016    April 2016    March 2016    February 2016    January 2016    December 2015    November 2015    October 2015    September 2015    August 2015    July 2015    June 2015    May 2015    April 2015    March 2015    February 2015    January 2015    December 2014    November 2014    October 2014    September 2014    August 2014    July 2014    June 2014    May 2014    April 2014    March 2014    February 2014    January 2014    December 2013    November 2013    October 2013    September 2013    August 2013    July 2013    June 2013    May 2013    April 2013    March 2013    February 2013    January 2013    December 2012    November 2012    October 2012    September 2012    August 2012    July 2012    June 2012    September 2010    July 2010  

Categories

Tools for my blog

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address:

Follow

Join 501 other subscribers

Important Dates

February 2026MTWTFSS 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728 « Jan

Blogroll

Entertainment

Music and Musicians

News and Information

Politics-the Conservative Viewpoint

My Photos

Skip to toolbar

theartfuldilettante's avatar

Who’s Paying For Minnesota’s Mayhem?

The violence and size of the anti-ICE riots in Minnesota took federal officials by surprise. But maybe they shouldn’t be shocked. As it turns out, and as is often the case when it comes to far-left demonstrations, outside money, organizations and foreign influence are firing the revolt.

As Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche this week told “The Ingraham Angle,” investigators discovered a “massive fraud going on all through Minneapolis, all through Minnesota, and suddenly it turned. It turned almost on a dime, and it became suddenly all about ICE, all about getting ICE out and how horrible ICE was doing,”

Yes, the Minnesota “uprising” as some call it bears all the signs of strategic planning and financing guiding the local demonstrators. It’s not spontaneous.

Last Friday’s “ICE-Out” demonstration that drew 15,000 is a clear example.

“Anti-ICE protests in Minnesota may appear to be ‘grassroots’ efforts organized by concerned citizens, but they’re really funded with megadonor money — some coming from China,” the New York Post reported.

While the violent protests were organized by a group called “50501,” they’ve been backed by the militant “Party for Socialism and Liberation” and “The People’s Forum,” two groups “largely subsidized by American former tech mogul Neville Roy Singham.”

And who is Singham? He’s a much-investigated current resident of Shanghai who shares an office with a Chinese Communist Party-linked media firm.

Citing a 2023 New York Times investigation of Singham, Fox News notes “that Singham has funneled over a quarter-billion dollars to dark money organizations in the U.S. with little to no footprints, and some of these organizations are vaguely named with office addresses under suspicious locations like general UPS mailboxes.”

As the Times investigation said, “What is less known, and is hidden amid a tangle of nonprofit groups and shell companies, is that Mr. Singham works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide.”

Those Minnesota riots, once described by some as “spontaneous,” look more and more like a backdoor attempt by China, allied with extreme groups in the U.S., to foment violence and outright rebellion.

Last week, FBI head Kash Patel hinted at this, saying “We’ve got … investigations ongoing into the funding of this,” adding that the violent demonstrations, which now include roadblocks and “borders” in parts of Minneapolis, are not taking place “organically.”

None of this is an accident, of course. The demonstrations took off just as massive fraud within the Somali refugee began to be seriously investigated. That includes those in and out of Minnesota’s state and local government who either ignored it or abetted it.

Right now, the groups pushing and financing the demonstrations whipped up public anger over the January shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents. Both incidents are being investigated.

But the more we know, the clearer this becomes. This is the far-left playbook: Inciting people to obstruct federal agents performing legitimate enforcement duties, because local politicians — that’s you, Gov. Tim Walz, and you, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey — have refused to aid ICE in doing its duty.

By inflaming opposition, and opening their state to a foreign-funded insurrection using American leftist groups as their foot-soldiers, they’ve abetted what appears to be a massive conspiracy to undermine a U.S. president’s clear right to enforce U.S. law.

And China’s involvement is a major issue. It’s been failing in the Western Hemisphere of late, with the election of five conservative new leaders and the loss of the Panama Canal. The arrest of Nicolas Maduro also stung. Imagine how upset China (not to mention, Russia) will be when Cuba’s murderous regime collapses, too.

This is a dangerous time in America. Blue states, and the increasingly lawless cities that define them, have turned into a sort of leftist neo-Confederacy, believing they can nullify American law at will. Minnesota’s Walz even had the temerity to mention Fort Sumter in a recent speech.

But the usual billionaire leftists who fund radical dissent — including George Soros and son — have company: China. And anyone who thinks Walz, an ardent Sinophile who claims to have visited the Middle Kingdom “dozens” of times, wouldn’t welcome Chinese money to counter President Donald Trump and ICE isn’t thinking straight.

China might be losing in Latin America, but it’s apparently winning here by financial subterfuge. The investigation is ongoing.

Earlier this week, Trump spoke with China’s Xi Jinping, who’s busy himself these days arresting potential rivals in the military. We hope that, in addition to talking about other things, Trump had a chance to tell Xi: Stop supporting U.S. leftist riots, or you’ll pay in ways you can’t imagine.

Issues & Insights Editorial Board

Democrats Are Truly the Party of Nonsense

Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries may call it common-sense solutions, but I would call their list of 40 demands for amnesty-like attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, nothing less than abolishing ICE altogether, and returning to President Biden’s catastrophic open-borders policy is their not-so-hidden agenda.

If you go through their list, you can see that they are siding once again with the far-left wing of the Democratic party that wants to abolish, defund, and damage ICE.

They can’t defund it cause it’s already funded from the One, Big, Beautiful, Bill, with roughly $75 billion, but then again the Democrats would love to undo the one BBB, and slap a $5 trillion tax hike on American families and businesses, along with defunding and abolishing ICE.

Well they’re not gonna get any of it. If they want to shut the government down again, they’re still not gonna get any of it.

Republicans in Congress and President Trump are not gonna allow any of it. Not the tax hikes, not ending ICE, not opening the border.

Here’s the Senate majority leader, John Thune, putting his foot down to stop all of this Democratic nonsense:

“Democrats have to be willing to actually reach an agreement if they’re coming to the table demanding a blank check or refusing to consider any measures but their own. They’re likely to end up with nothing, which is fine if Democrats just want a political issue.”

In fact, Senator Lindsey Graham has a much better idea, he wants to not just defund sanctuary cities, but abolish them. Because sanctuary cities have become the root cause of violence and shootings. 

Even in blue cities, police have said they are more than happy to cooperate with ICE, and release criminal illegals to ICE agents inside the prison. That keeps the illegals off the streets and removes the need for large scale ICE sweeps.

Yet this is way too sensible for Democrats who want to defend sanctuary cities and attack ICE, and go back to some cockeyed amnesty that will wind up returning to the disastrous policy of open borders.

Some of these Democratic ideas in case you haven’t read them: no masks for ICE officers and they should wear ID tags. This just leads to exactly what the anti-ICE protesters want.

It also endangers the ICE agents and their families, and if nothing else, helps to dox them.

The Democrats also want to bar ICE arrests without a judge’s warrant, which of course  just slows down the whole process of removing dangerous criminals, and in so many cases, left-wing prosecutors will go judge shopping in order to stop ICE from doing its job by finding left-wing judges.

Then Democrats say ICE should not be allowed to arrest migrants in certain sensitive locations, quote on quote, which just expands sanctuary cities, and on top of that, the Schumer demands would attach all kinds of race and ancestry criteria for rounding up criminals, and then even give local police jurisdiction over the federal ICE agents, which local police don’t want.

Yet this is a wondrous idea since the federal ICE agents and federal laws supersede local laws. Really sanctuary cities don’t legally exist outside of the blue states and localities, because they violate federal laws.

The Democrats’ 40-plus demands are bundled into 10 bullet points, and virtually prevent any kind of deal to fund the remaining unfunded parts of DHS, like FEMA or TSA or the Secret Service.

For once, it is surely the Democrats who are truly the stupid party, and they are going to lose this battle big time, because the country won’t tolerate open borders, or rampant crime from illegals.

Larry Kudlow is a columnist for the New York Sun. From Mr. Kudlow’s broadcast on Fox Business Network

The Art of Growing Old

My childhood memories always include thoughts of my father. Right up until he passed away, he was active and alert; cutting the grass weekly, keeping-up the house and even expertly managing his computer. When clients ask me for tips about aging gracefully, all I have to do is think of him.

That notwithstanding, I suspect that I’m not yet old enough to be an expert on aging. But I can share the experiences of people I regularly encounter who manage to age gracefully.

One man in his mid-eighties told me, “I try to be out of the house by noon every day. I don’t care whether it’s a get-together or simply to go to the store. I get out either way.” This man lost his wife when he was in his seventies, but despite the loss, he found a way to cope by employing this wise strategy.

A friend whose 100th birthday party I attended told me that the secret to successful aging is, “all in the head.” In other words, you have to keep using your mind. She reads, visits museums, cultivates her tulips and is always ready to engage in active discussion on any subject. She has read all three of my books and we have fascinating talks about them. Her points of view, gleaned over a century, have gifted me with valuable insight into human nature. She stays interested in life, and life pays her back with better physical and mental health than she might otherwise experience.

At 94, my mother told me, “You’re as old as you feel.” Right up until she passed away (at 99!), she aged elegantly and attributed it to NOT thinking like an old person. I’ve noticed that people who age well do everything possible to maintain their posture and to walk with as much confidence as they can. By acting and thinking young, they feel younger.

On the opposite side are those who shuffle along, drive or perform other activities far slower or far more cautiously than is actually necessary, as if they might somehow break or fall apart. I was always amused when my energetic 100-year-old-friend accused her peers of that very thing!

Of course, some people age better because they’re less susceptible to certain ailments and diseases. Yet, how you manage things emotionally counts for more than most of us realize. Mental health professionals who work with cancer patients have told me that recovery, or at least longevity, is more likely in people with happy, realistic attitudes than in people who engage in denial and self-pity. Of course we can’t just wish away negative things, but at the same time a good outlook is easier on the body than a negative one — no matter what the medical situation.

A major factor in aging successfully is how one handles the loss of a spouse. People who experience widowhood fare better if they work to accept the loss while, quite understandably, still grieving it. It’s absolutely normal to grieve — indeed, in some measure, for the rest of your life. But at the same time, you have to develop acceptance. If you can’t learn to accept, then you’ll never allow yourself the opportunity to experience the other things that life still has to offer. This applies to people of every age, since we’re all subject to loss at any time.

Healthy and happy elderly people have told me, “There’s never an excuse for being bored, no matter how old you are.” It makes sense! In my book, “Bad Therapy, Good Therapy And How to Tell the Difference” (available exclusively at DrHurd.com, by the way), I coined the phrase “psychological entrepreneurism” in which negative developments, while still acknowledged as negative, are turned into opportunities and new experiences.

These are just a few of the things that older people happily will tell you. Take it from them, not from me. Seniors who thrive with a positive point of view are the most interesting and admirable psychological entrepreneurs. We can learn so much from them.

Michael J. Hurd, Life’s a Beach

Reality is Your Friend

According to a Gallup Organization survey, 20% of Americans believe that it is possible to communicate with the dead. Films such as “Bless the Child” and “Sixth Sense,” along with TV shows peddling self-proclaimed mediums like John Edward, continue to feed an apparent need for otherworldly communication.

Book after book has been written about the authenticity – or lack thereof – associated with those who claim to predict the future and communicate with the dead. It is not my intention to add to that collection of dubious “scientific” study, but as a cognitive psychotherapist, my question is this: What need does this fascination with mysticism serve? Why do otherwise levelheaded people flock to psychics, mediums and the like? What are we looking for that is so superior to reality? As the likes of John Edward artfully cultivates his faux persona of clairvoyance for the TV cameras, there is no doubting the outbursts of genuine emotion from the audience. Right or wrong, true or untrue, there is a need being served here.

Human beings want explanations. Science does not provide us with everything — at least not all at once. Consequently, it can be tempting to look for answers beyond the realm of reason and reality. Of course, what greets you there is nothing more than wishful thinking, but fantasy still holds great emotional appeal in an uncertain world.

Adults who grew up in abusive environments often tell me, “I escaped by retreating into fantasy.” Indeed, fantasy can actually keep a young person sane through the psychological (and sometimes physical) warfare taking place in the household. Of course, not everyone grows up like that, but I think this offers a clue to the appeal of the paranormal: Life can occasionally be puzzling and stressful, and it can be exciting to seek comfort outside the real world. As an old friend of mine once put it, “It’s fine to face reality and confront your fears, but what happens when reality bites?”

Here’s where you run into the difference between healthy and unhealthy attitudes. When reality bites, the healthy person with self-esteem thinks, “What can I do to make it better?” The answer might not be immediate, but that person trusts his or her mind to figure things out without resorting to fantasy and make-believe.

A person who finds it difficult to summon up this kind of strength will say, “I just can’t take it. I need out.” In rare cases this could result in suicide or drug/alcohol addiction, but these are the exceptions. Some will immerse themselves in their work. Still others turn to the paranormal.

The mystical can be fascinating. It addresses questions that most of us don’t think about in daily life. What happens after we die? Is there reincarnation? Can I communicate with lost loved ones? Of course, when all is said and done, there is no hard evidence of any of this. But for many, the appeal lies in escaping the rigors of daily life by venturing to the other side where, for a blissful little while, you can make up the rules yourself.

Unhappy or over-stressed people will think, “Why did this happen to me?” The thought can be in response to tragedy or nothing more than a frustrating day. A cognitive therapist can offer no answer other than, “This is just how it is. Don’t try to read meaning into it. Some things are just what they are.” The challenge is to figure out how to cope. Explanations are certainly valuable, but solutions are more important.

Trying to dig up explanations for the not-yet-explained or the merely coincidental might make for a happy escape, but it accomplishes nothing in the end.

Celebrated singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder said it best in his hit song “Superstition”: “When you believe in things you don’t understand, then you suffer, superstition ain’t the way!”

Michael J. Hurd, Life’s a Beach

Our Government Has Lost Its Legitimacy

Steve Bannon was imprisoned for contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena. Will Bill and Hillary Clinton be imprisoned for the same offense? Not a chance. Why the inconsistency? If the law only applies to certain people, and if the law is applied selectively based on whether you have connections or are a member of the Party — then do we even have a law?

We have hundreds, if not thousands, of examples of this kind.

The theme is always the same: If you are a leftist, a Democrat, a RINO, or otherwise have the right connections, there is no law. The laws apply only to the little people, the people without connections and whether they are guilty, or not. Our government, even with a commendable President (for the moment), has lost all legitimacy. We are truly on our own. It’s not an opinion; it’s a fact. It’s not going to end well.

Case in point: U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin on Thursday said she won’t sit for an interview requested as part of an inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice over a video she taped with five other Democrats urging U.S. troops to resist “illegal orders” from the Trump administration.

Does this mean the next time a Democrat Congress orders someone to testify or the next time a Democrat President demands an arrest that nobody has to comply? Because if leftists get to obey laws selectively, so do the rest of us. After all, we are now in a civil war.

Michael J. Hurd, Daily Dose of Reason

Not Your Grand-daddies’ Immigrants

You have the type of immigrant who comes to a free country, a place with no guarantees, no handouts, no special favors, a place where you are required to make it on your own. Any charity you receive is minimal, temporary and voluntary on the part of the giver.

Then you have the kind of immigrant who comes to a country where you are immediately handed free schools, free medical care, free housing, no demand to change your language or customs, easy loans, free cell phones, free food stamps, welfare, and all of this even before becoming a citizen — so you pay no taxes.

It’s not the same kind of immigrant.

*******

The Democrats — all of them — are essentially saying, re: ICE: “The law is what we say it is. If ICE is acting consistent with the law, and if we don’t like those laws — then ICE is acting illegally. We will prosecute them for their crimes.” But ICE is upholding the law, and President Trump is doing exactly what he promised to do if elected in 2024 — and he was decisively elected. If Democrats now believe that the law is only what they say it is, then they should say so — they should acknowledge that they consider themselves the rulers in a dictatorship where there’s only one Party in charge, as in Communist China, Venezuela, Cuba, or past regimes such as Stalin’s Russia or Hitler’s Germany.

Democrats don’t get to have it both ways — in the media, maybe, but not in terms of OBJECTIVE reality. When Biden was in office, everything he did — even forced medical treatments and censorship of social media — was deemed valid because he was allegedly an elected President. But now when Trump does things that ARE within the Constitution and the law, and he was elected to do those things — why, those things are illegal. Nobody would make such a claim unless they already consider themselves the ruling dictator of a nation.

Michael J. Hurd, Daily Dose of Reason

London schools left with empty classrooms as abortion decimates our population

Warnings that London secondary schools may soon be forced to close due to falling pupil numbers are the latest visible consequence of a much deeper demographic problem. While policymakers routinely point to housing costs, economic insecurity, and delayed parenthood, one central factor remains persistently under-examined: the long-term impact of abortion on Britain’s birth rate.

London Councils have warned that demand for Year 7 places is now falling faster than demand for Reception places for the first time on record. Over the next four years, pupil numbers entering secondary schools in the capital are expected to drop by almost four percent, with inner London facing even sharper declines. Because schools are funded per pupil, the result is likely to be mergers, closures, staff reductions, and a narrowing of curriculum options.

This is not a sudden crisis. The UK’s Total Fertility Rate has been below the replacement level of 2.1 since 1973. What is new is the speed at which the consequences are now becoming unavoidable. In 2023, excluding the coronavirus anomaly, deaths outnumbered births for the first time in decades. Immigration has masked this decline for years, but it has not solved it.

Crucially, the conversation around falling fertility almost never addresses abortion, despite the data being unambiguous. Office for National Statistics figures show that the gap between the number of live births required for population replacement and the number actually occurring has, for much of the past fifty years, been smaller than the number of abortions carried out annually.

In 2023, around 30 percent of all viable pregnancies in the UK ended in abortion; this figure is higher in London. Ten years ago, the figure was closer to 20 percent. Today, for every twenty viable pregnancies, fourteen result in live births and six in abortion.

This reality matters when considering school closures. Children who are never born do not fill classrooms, sustain local services, or become the future workforce needed to support an ageing population. When schools close, communities hollow out. When communities hollow out, families are less likely to form. The cycle accelerates.

SPUC’s Executive Director, Michael Robinson, says, “If the closure of schools is treated merely as a funding or planning problem, the response will be utterly benign. It is the visible end point of decades of decisions that have devalued childbirth, normalised abortion, and treated population decline as a net benefit for the world. London’s empty classrooms should be a wake-up call. A society that does not welcome children will eventually reap the consequences: wrecked economies and communities. Abortion is the greatest destroyer of societal harmony and prosperity.”

SPUC Staff

As Iran tensions mount, beware the hidden hand of this two-faced US ‘ally

While Washington searches for ways to weaken Iran’s murderous rulers, our supposed NATO ally Turkey is working overtime to keep the mullahs alive — and in power.

This week’s diplomatic tug-of-war over US-Iran negotiations is a win for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s Islamist strongman, who has led a cynical campaign to stall for time and block US and Israeli military action against the Islamic Republic after its brutal crackdown on civilian protesters.

He’s feigning concern that military action would spark “regional instability,” but his real goal is simple: Keep Iran’s theocracy from falling — and stop the emergence of a free, democratic state that would shatter his regional ambitions.

Along with Qatar and Egypt, Erdogan has reportedly proposed to both sides a three-year “deal” under which Iran would agree to limit its uranium enrichment, restrict its use of ballistic missiles and pause arms shipments to its regional allies

It would do nothing to relieve the suffering of Iran’s people.

And it would ensure the regime’s stability — allowing it to outlast President Donald Trump’s remaining time in office.

It’s a smokescreen, and Trump must not fall for it.

The president’s negotiating team should be clear-eyed: Ankara’s priority is not peace, but regime survival.

For Erdogan, a crippled Islamist regime in Tehran is far more useful than a democratic one that might align with the West.

Why? Because Iran’s terror empire benefits him.

By keeping Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza armed and operational, Tehran helps Erdogan weaken Israel — a strategic obsession for the Turkish leader.

A constantly threatened Israel allows Erdogan to posture as the Middle East’s next great power broker, claiming leadership while chaos reigns.

That’s why, as US naval and air assets assemble across the region, Tehran is clinging to Ankara’s overtures — seking negotiations to avoid a final reckoning.

Europe has labeled Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization for murdering thousands of peaceful protesters.

Erdogan, however, praised Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for his government’s “handling” of the unrest — effectively endorsing Tehran’s claim that the demonstrations were “terrorist attacks . . . clearly directed by Israeli-linked elements.”

In doing so, Erdogan is openly empowering an enemy of the United States.

This is why Turkey rushed to offer itself as host for the talks planned for Friday: not to mediate, but to block Washington from acting.

null

Opinion

As Iran tensions mount, beware the hidden hand of this two-faced US ‘ally’

By 

Sinan Ciddi and

William Doran

Published Feb. 5, 2026, 12:19 p.m. ET392

Rubio signals Trump is ready to engage in talks with Iran

00:00

/

03:53

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.740.0_en.html#deid=%22%22&eventfe_experiment_ids=%5B%5D&fid=%22goog_1427731926%22&genotype_experiment_data=%7B%22experimentStateProto%22%3A%22%5B%5B%5B45713128%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C745150931%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C749060184%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C128%5D%5D%2C%5B841585769%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45722344%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45706017%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45685340%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45663239%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45715032%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B839547366%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45675307%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45675308%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45688859%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45656766%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710689%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710688%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C500%5D%5D%2C%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B775241416%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107958%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45658982%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45725657%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B%5B16%2C%5B%5B1%2C%5B%5B31089630%5D%2C%5B31089631%2C%5B%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1000%2C%5B%5B95332046%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95332047%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95338769%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95338770%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C2%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B50%2C%5B%5B95345206%5D%2C%5B95345207%2C%5B%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95351425%5D%2C%5B95351426%2C%5B%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B20%2C%5B%5B95356068%5D%2C%5B95356069%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356070%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356071%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C100%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95373378%2C%5B%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95373379%2C%5B%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95375930%5D%2C%5B95375931%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95376520%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95378095%5D%2C%5B95378096%2C%5B%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95378629%5D%2C%5B95378630%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381582%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381583%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1000%2C1%2C1000%5D%5D%22%7D&imalib_experiments=%5B44726389%2C95322027%2C95331589%2C95332046%2C95378629%5D&is_eap_loader=false&managed_js_experiment_id=0&page_correlator=4380091818944925&pvsid=1110357205876238&top_accessible_page_url=%22https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2026%2F02%2F05%2Fopinion%2Fas-iran-tensions-mount-beware-the-hidden-hand-of-this-us-ally-2%2F%22null

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.740.0_en.html#deid=%22%22&eventfe_experiment_ids=%5B%5D&fid=%22goog_1427731927%22&genotype_experiment_data=%7B%22experimentStateProto%22%3A%22%5B%5B%5B45713128%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C745150931%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C749060184%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C128%5D%5D%2C%5B841585769%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45722344%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45706017%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45685340%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45663239%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45715032%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B839547366%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45675307%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45675308%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45688859%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45656766%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710689%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710688%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C500%5D%5D%2C%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B775241416%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107958%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45658982%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45725657%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B%5B16%2C%5B%5B1%2C%5B%5B31089630%5D%2C%5B31089631%2C%5B%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1000%2C%5B%5B95332046%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95332047%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95338769%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95338770%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C2%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B50%2C%5B%5B95345206%5D%2C%5B95345207%2C%5B%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95351425%5D%2C%5B95351426%2C%5B%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B20%2C%5B%5B95356068%5D%2C%5B95356069%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356070%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356071%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C100%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95373378%2C%5B%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95373379%2C%5B%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95375930%5D%2C%5B95375931%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95376520%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95378095%5D%2C%5B95378096%2C%5B%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95378629%5D%2C%5B95378630%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381582%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381583%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1000%2C1%2C1000%5D%5D%22%7D&imalib_experiments=%5B44726389%2C95322027%2C95331589%2C95332046%2C95378629%5D&is_eap_loader=false&managed_js_experiment_id=0&page_correlator=857699948298813&pvsid=1110357205876238&top_accessible_page_url=%22https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2026%2F02%2F05%2Fopinion%2Fas-iran-tensions-mount-beware-the-hidden-hand-of-this-us-ally-2%2F%22null

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.740.0_en.html#deid=%22%22&eventfe_experiment_ids=%5B%5D&fid=%22goog_1427731928%22&genotype_experiment_data=%7B%22experimentStateProto%22%3A%22%5B%5B%5B45713128%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C745150931%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C749060184%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C128%5D%5D%2C%5B841585769%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45722344%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45706017%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45685340%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45663239%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45715032%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B839547366%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45675307%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45675308%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45688859%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45656766%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710689%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710688%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C500%5D%5D%2C%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B775241416%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107958%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45658982%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45725657%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B%5B16%2C%5B%5B1%2C%5B%5B31089630%5D%2C%5B31089631%2C%5B%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1000%2C%5B%5B95332046%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95332047%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95338769%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95338770%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C2%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B50%2C%5B%5B95345206%5D%2C%5B95345207%2C%5B%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95351425%5D%2C%5B95351426%2C%5B%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B20%2C%5B%5B95356068%5D%2C%5B95356069%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356070%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356071%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C100%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95373378%2C%5B%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95373379%2C%5B%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95375930%5D%2C%5B95375931%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95376520%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95378095%5D%2C%5B95378096%2C%5B%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95378629%5D%2C%5B95378630%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381582%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381583%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1000%2C1%2C1000%5D%5D%22%7D&imalib_experiments=%5B44726389%2C95322027%2C95331589%2C95332046%2C95378629%5D&is_eap_loader=false&managed_js_experiment_id=0&page_correlator=980729041835851&pvsid=1110357205876238&top_accessible_page_url=%22https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2026%2F02%2F05%2Fopinion%2Fas-iran-tensions-mount-beware-the-hidden-hand-of-this-us-ally-2%2F%22null

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.740.0_en.html#deid=%22%22&eventfe_experiment_ids=%5B%5D&fid=%22goog_1427731929%22&genotype_experiment_data=%7B%22experimentStateProto%22%3A%22%5B%5B%5B45713128%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C745150931%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C749060184%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C128%5D%5D%2C%5B841585769%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45722344%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45706017%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45685340%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45663239%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45715032%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B839547366%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45675307%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45675308%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45688859%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45656766%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710689%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710688%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C500%5D%5D%2C%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B775241416%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107958%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45658982%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45725657%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B%5B16%2C%5B%5B1%2C%5B%5B31089630%5D%2C%5B31089631%2C%5B%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1000%2C%5B%5B95332046%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95332047%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95338769%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95338770%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C2%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B50%2C%5B%5B95345206%5D%2C%5B95345207%2C%5B%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95351425%5D%2C%5B95351426%2C%5B%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B20%2C%5B%5B95356068%5D%2C%5B95356069%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356070%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356071%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C100%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95373378%2C%5B%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95373379%2C%5B%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95375930%5D%2C%5B95375931%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95376520%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95378095%5D%2C%5B95378096%2C%5B%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95378629%5D%2C%5B95378630%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381582%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381583%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1000%2C1%2C1000%5D%5D%22%7D&imalib_experiments=%5B44726389%2C95322027%2C95331589%2C95332046%2C95378629%5D&is_eap_loader=false&managed_js_experiment_id=0&page_correlator=1280665537878043&pvsid=1110357205876238&top_accessible_page_url=%22https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2026%2F02%2F05%2Fopinion%2Fas-iran-tensions-mount-beware-the-hidden-hand-of-this-us-ally-2%2F%22null

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking at a podium with Turkish and Somali flags.

While Washington searches for ways to weaken Iran’s murderous rulers, our supposed NATO ally Turkey is working overtime to keep the mullahs alive — and in power.

This week’s diplomatic tug-of-war over US-Iran negotiations is a win for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s Islamist strongman, who has led a cynical campaign to stall for time and block US and Israeli military action against the Islamic Republic after its brutal crackdown on civilian protesters.

He’s feigning concern that military action would spark “regional instability,” but his real goal is simple: Keep Iran’s theocracy from falling — and stop the emergence of a free, democratic state that would shatter his regional ambitions.

Along with Qatar and Egypt, Erdogan has reportedly proposed to both sides a three-year “deal” under which Iran would agree to limit its uranium enrichment, restrict its use of ballistic missiles and pause arms shipments to its regional allies

It would do nothing to relieve the suffering of Iran’s people.Continue watchingThis Day in Historyafter the ad

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.740.0_en.html#deid=%22%22&eventfe_experiment_ids=%5B%5D&fid=%22goog_1427731931%22&genotype_experiment_data=%7B%22experimentStateProto%22%3A%22%5B%5B%5B45713128%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C745150931%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C749060184%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C128%5D%5D%2C%5B841585769%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45722344%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45706017%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45685340%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45663239%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45715032%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B839547366%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45675307%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45675308%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45688859%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45656766%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710689%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710688%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C500%5D%5D%2C%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B775241416%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107958%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45658982%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45725657%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B%5B16%2C%5B%5B1%2C%5B%5B31089630%5D%2C%5B31089631%2C%5B%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1000%2C%5B%5B95332046%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95332047%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95338769%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95338770%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C2%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B50%2C%5B%5B95345206%5D%2C%5B95345207%2C%5B%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95351425%5D%2C%5B95351426%2C%5B%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B20%2C%5B%5B95356068%5D%2C%5B95356069%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356070%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356071%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C100%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95373378%2C%5B%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95373379%2C%5B%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95375930%5D%2C%5B95375931%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95376520%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95378095%5D%2C%5B95378096%2C%5B%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95378629%5D%2C%5B95378630%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381582%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381583%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1000%2C1%2C1000%5D%5D%22%7D&imalib_experiments=%5B44726389%2C95322027%2C95331589%2C95332046%2C95378629%5D&is_eap_loader=false&managed_js_experiment_id=0&page_correlator=564478273490416&pvsid=1110357205876238&top_accessible_page_url=%22https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2026%2F02%2F05%2Fopinion%2Fas-iran-tensions-mount-beware-the-hidden-hand-of-this-us-ally-2%2F%22null

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.740.0_en.html#deid=%22%22&eventfe_experiment_ids=%5B%5D&fid=%22goog_1427731932%22&genotype_experiment_data=%7B%22experimentStateProto%22%3A%22%5B%5B%5B45713128%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C745150931%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C749060184%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C128%5D%5D%2C%5B841585769%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45722344%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45706017%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45685340%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45663239%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45715032%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B839547366%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45675307%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45675308%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45688859%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45656766%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710689%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710688%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C500%5D%5D%2C%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B775241416%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107958%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45658982%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45725657%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B%5B16%2C%5B%5B1%2C%5B%5B31089630%5D%2C%5B31089631%2C%5B%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1000%2C%5B%5B95332046%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95332047%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95338769%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95338770%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C2%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B50%2C%5B%5B95345206%5D%2C%5B95345207%2C%5B%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95351425%5D%2C%5B95351426%2C%5B%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B20%2C%5B%5B95356068%5D%2C%5B95356069%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356070%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356071%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C100%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95373378%2C%5B%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95373379%2C%5B%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95375930%5D%2C%5B95375931%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95376520%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95378095%5D%2C%5B95378096%2C%5B%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95378629%5D%2C%5B95378630%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381582%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381583%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1000%2C1%2C1000%5D%5D%22%7D&imalib_experiments=%5B44726389%2C95322027%2C95331589%2C95332046%2C95378629%5D&is_eap_loader=false&managed_js_experiment_id=0&page_correlator=1714020596897415&pvsid=1110357205876238&top_accessible_page_url=%22https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2026%2F02%2F05%2Fopinion%2Fas-iran-tensions-mount-beware-the-hidden-hand-of-this-us-ally-2%2F%22null

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.740.0_en.html#deid=%22%22&eventfe_experiment_ids=%5B%5D&fid=%22goog_1427731933%22&genotype_experiment_data=%7B%22experimentStateProto%22%3A%22%5B%5B%5B45713128%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C745150931%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C749060184%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C128%5D%5D%2C%5B841585769%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45722344%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45706017%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45685340%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45663239%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45715032%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B839547366%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45675307%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45675308%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45688859%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45656766%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710689%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710688%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C500%5D%5D%2C%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B775241416%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107958%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45658982%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45725657%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B%5B16%2C%5B%5B1%2C%5B%5B31089630%5D%2C%5B31089631%2C%5B%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1000%2C%5B%5B95332046%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95332047%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95338769%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95338770%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C2%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B50%2C%5B%5B95345206%5D%2C%5B95345207%2C%5B%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95351425%5D%2C%5B95351426%2C%5B%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B20%2C%5B%5B95356068%5D%2C%5B95356069%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356070%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356071%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C100%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95373378%2C%5B%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95373379%2C%5B%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95375930%5D%2C%5B95375931%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95376520%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95378095%5D%2C%5B95378096%2C%5B%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95378629%5D%2C%5B95378630%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381582%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753603%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95381583%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45753604%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1000%2C1%2C1000%5D%5D%22%7D&imalib_experiments=%5B44726389%2C95322027%2C95331589%2C95332046%2C95378629%5D&is_eap_loader=false&managed_js_experiment_id=0&page_correlator=3198221012823380&pvsid=1110357205876238&top_accessible_page_url=%22https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2026%2F02%2F05%2Fopinion%2Fas-iran-tensions-mount-beware-the-hidden-hand-of-this-us-ally-2%2F%22null

javascript:false

And it would ensure the regime’s stability — allowing it to outlast President Donald Trump’s remaining time in office.The diplomatic tug-of-war over US-Iran negotiations is a win for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s Islamist strongman, who has led a cynical campaign to block military action against Tehran.AP

Explore More

Houthi supporters in Sana'a, Yemen, protest against the US and Israel while holding up weapons.

The human rights cause Hollywood celebrities won’t say a word about

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, February 1, 2026.

Iranian nuclear talks only delay the inevitable

Gaza’s ‘gargantuan’ rebuild now begins after last hostage is finally returned to Israel, Huckabee says

It’s a smokescreen, and Trump must not fall for it.

The president’s negotiating team should be clear-eyed: Ankara’s priority is not peace, but regime survival.

For Erdogan, a crippled Islamist regime in Tehran is far more useful than a democratic one that might align with the West.

Why? Because Iran’s terror empire benefits him.

By keeping Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza armed and operational, Tehran helps Erdogan weaken Israel — a strategic obsession for the Turkish leader.

A constantly threatened Israel allows Erdogan to posture as the Middle East’s next great power broker, claiming leadership while chaos reigns.

That’s why, as US naval and air assets assemble across the region, Tehran is clinging to Ankara’s overtures — seking negotiations to avoid a final reckoning.

Europe has labeled Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization for murdering thousands of peaceful protesters.

Erdogan, however, praised Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for his government’s “handling” of the unrest — effectively endorsing Tehran’s claim that the demonstrations were “terrorist attacks . . . clearly directed by Israeli-linked elements.”

In doing so, Erdogan is openly empowering an enemy of the United States.

This is why Turkey rushed to offer itself as host for the talks planned for Friday: not to mediate, but to block Washington from acting.

The summit has been moved to Oman at Iran’s request — but that has not slowed Ankara’s eagerness to shield the regime.

If the talks proceed, US negotiators should be on guard.

Turkey may offer to take custody of part of Iran’s highly enriched uranium for “safekeeping” — a proposal recently floated by Ankara.

Erdogan would push this idea as a means of “conflict prevention,” but there’s no reason to believe weapons-grade uranium would be safer in Turkey’s hands than in Iran’s.

Ankara is not a benevolent ally advancing US interests, but a strategic saboteur.

If Turkey gets its way, the summit in Oman will lead to continued delays in bringing down Tehran’s regime.

Erdogan in recent days has been prepping the ground, encouraging the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Qatar to insist on further rounds of “diplomatic efforts.”

In doing so, Ankara not only emboldens Iran’s despots, but constructs a collective regional effort to abandon Iran’s people — who are crying out for the chance to bring down the regime and remake Iran as a democratic ally of America and the West.

For Erdogan, preserving a weakened Islamic Republic serves one overriding purpose: blocking the emergence of a US–Israeli security order that would sideline Turkey’s ambitions.

Since late 2024, Iran’s regional position has collapsed — following Assad’s fall in Syria, the dismantling of its proxy networks, and a humiliating 12-day confrontation with Israel.

A decisive American-Israeli strike that removes Iran’s leadership would accelerate this shift — and leave Erdogan isolated in a radically new Middle East.

But a wounded regime allows Turkey to expand its influence while Israel remains consumed by Iran’s terror web.

It’s why Erdogan continues to tolerate — and at times enable — Hamas and Hezbollah as instruments to keep the Jewish state trapped in permanent crisis.