The great sociologist André Béteille, who died recently, once wrote to me saying: “You must meditate a little more on the place of evil in the conduct of human affairs.” He thought that I focused too much on writing about politicians of goodwill, such as Gandhi. But history was made, and unmade, as much – and often even more – by people of malign intentions.
I recalled Professor Béteille’s warning when the present conflict in West Asia broke out. This conflict posits the United States of America and Israel on one side against Iran on the other. But crucial to how the war has unfolded are the personalities of the three men who have led, or are still leading, these countries.
Let us begin with the leader who is no longer alive, the late Ali Khamenei. Khamenei undoubtedly exhibited bravery in refusing to hide when the bombs began to fall, willingly embracing death. The courage he showed in his last days – when juxtaposed with the brute force and perfidy of his enemies – has led some left-wing intellectuals to portray him as an anti-imperialist icon. This seems to me simplistic in the extreme. The manner of his death should not allow us to...
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