Popular Anti Semite With Big Following, of Young Democrats, Hasan Piker

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                

34 Year old Hasan Piker, a prominent Turkish-American Twitch streamer with a large following, has drawn significant controversy and criticism for his commentary on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including statements criticizing Zionism and comparing the Israeli state to Hamas. 

He was born in 1991 in New Jersey, and grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, and is 6'4:.  Hasan Doğan Piker is known online by the name HasanAbi,  As of 2026, Piker's Twitch channel ranks among the platform's most-subscribed.

A Muslim, His father, Mehmet Behçet Piker, is a political scientist and economist who served on the Board of Directors (and as Vice President) of Sabancı Holding, and who is a founding member of the conservative Future Party in Turkey. Turkey's president, Erdogen, is not a friend of Israel.  Piker's uncle, Cenk Uygur, is a political commentator and co-founder of The Young Turks, a left-leaning news network.  

A Twitch channel is a personalized, live-streaming webpage on the Amazon-owned Twitch platform where a creator broadcasts live video content, such as gaming, art, or conversation. It serves as a home hub for a user to stream video, host a live chat, and build a community.

Statements Regarding Hamas and Israel

• "A Thousand Times Better" Claim: Piker has been quoted as stating, "Hamas is a thousand times better than the fascist settler colonial apartheid state" of Israel.
• October 7th Commentary: Piker has faced intense criticism for comments made following the October 7, 2023, attacks, such as "It doesn't matter if rape happened on October 7th. It doesn't change the dynamic for me," and for framing the attack within the context of1srael's actions.
• Blaming Israel for Attacks: During the 2026 Web Summit Qatar, Piker argued that Israel played a "significant role" in how the October 7th attacks occurred.
• Context of Criticism: Piker frequently describes Israel as a "fascist settler colonial apartheid state" and argues that Israel cannot operate without U.S. backing. 

Attacks on Zionism and Backlash

• Anti-Zionism vs. Antisemitism: Piker has stated he is "anti-Israel" and an "avowed anti-Zionist," arguing that he is not antisemitic, ( that's like a Nazi against Jews but saying he really likes them) despite criticism from figures like Rep. Ritchie Torres and the Anti-Defamation League, who have labeled him an "apologist" for 10/7 and 9/11. He takes advantage of knowing that most Americans do not know the meaning of Zionism (the right of Jews to return to the Land of Israel, a term coined in 1893 by Nathan Birnbaum to express aspiration as ancient as the Babylonian Exile of Jews from their homeland of Judah.  It was picked up later encouraging the migration of Jews to Palestine by people like Herzl.  The 1st Zionist Congress was in 1897 took place due to all the pogroms and hatred Jews were experiencing even then.  
•  It was stated that Jews had the political aspirations as for a national home in Palestine guaranteed by public law  called the BASLE PROGRAM-- the first manifesto of the Zionist movement, drafted between 27 and 30 August 1897 and adopted unanimously at the First Zionist Congress).   Zionism then proceeds from the assumption that the Jews are still a people or nation, many of whom cannot or will not assimilate themselves to other peoples and wish to retain their identity as a national community.  
• Comparison to Nazis: Piker has been accused of comparing liberal Zionists to "liberal Nazis".
  
  
  
• Political Rifts: His commentary has caused divisions among Democrats, with some, such as Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, appearing with him, while others criticize his involvement due to his rhetoric.  Sayed declines to disavow Piker's past comments.  

Piker has maintained that his critics are acting in bad faith and that he is highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and "speaking truth to power".  (I say that he doesn't know his history which is truth and HIstoric facts should have more power than what consists of his intelligence.  )

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasan_Piker

Iran's Water Crisis

 Nadene Goldfoot                                        

   800 gallon Express water wagon, electric brakes, DOT approved, probably made in USA for c. $13,000.  

Iran is facing a severe, multi-year water crisis—ranked fourth globally for extreme water scarcity—with major cities like Tehran and Mashhad experiencing nearly empty reservoirs. In response to dried-up taps and drought, water wagons (tanker trucks) are being deployed to supply essential water to households, particularly in areas experiencing, or at risk of, rationing and potential evacuation.

1/35 250 GALLON IRAN ARMY WAGON, WATER TANK TRAILER,

CALLED BEN HUR. 

• Impending Crisis: The situation is described as "day zero," where water reserves are nearly depleted due to five consecutive years of drought and mismanagement.
• Infrastructure Failure: Major dams, such as the Karaj Dam in northern Iran, have reached "dead capacity," falling below 3% in some regions like Mashhad.
• Infrastructure Impact: The crisis is driven by excessive dam construction and overuse in agriculture, which accounts for ~90% of water use. 

Water Wagons and Mitigation Efforts:

• Distribution: Tanker trucks are increasingly used to transport drinking water to affected communities.
• Alternative Solutions: Due to the severity, authorities are pursuing massive infrastructure projects, including building pipelines to transfer water from the sea.
• Outlook: Experts warn that without significant changes, the shortage will continue to cause widespread displacement. 

The crisis, often described by residents as a result of poor management combined with climate change, has led to calls for significant intervention in water management practices.

Why Israel AND Iranian Citizens Are Fighting the Ayatollah Regimes For 47 Years

 Nadene Goldfoot                                           

Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi Khomeini (17 May 1900 – 3 June 1989) was an Iranian political revolutionary and Shia cleric who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989. He was the leader of the Iranian Revolution, which overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, ended the Pahlavi era, and transformed the country into an Islamic republic.

The Ayatollah's fight against Israel began in 1979 with the Islamic Revolution, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which severed all ties with Israel. The ideology framed hostility towards Israel as a religious obligation, with the conflict escalating into a regional proxy battle in the mid-1980s that persisted for decades.

• 1979 Revolution: Ayatollah Khomeini seized power, replaced the Israeli embassy in Tehran with a Palestine Liberation Organization mission, and established a policy of opposition to Israel.
• Proxy Warfare: Iran built a "ring of fire" against Israel by funding and arming proxy militias like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza throughout the 1980s and onward.
• Ideological Goal: The regime's, specifically Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's, goal was the eventual destruction of Israel, which led to high tensions and conflicts over decades.
  
  Ali Hosseini Khamenei (19 April 1939 – 28 February 2026) was an Iranian politician and Shia cleric who served as the second supreme leader of Iran from 1989 until his assassination in the 2026 Iran war. He previously served as the third president of Iran from 1981 to 1989. He held the title Ayatollah, and his tenure as supreme leader, spanning 36 years and six months, made him the longest-serving head of state in West Asia at the time of his death.
• Escalation to War: The longstanding conflict escalated to direct, open warfare in 2024 and 2025, largely driven by Iran-backed proxy activity in Gaza and Lebanon. 
As of February 28, 2026, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's long fight against Israel ended following his death during a period of open conflict with Israel.
This makes 47 years of unexpected warring against Israel from at least 7 sites due to the aid and abetting of Iran who directed and wanted the fighting.  
Israel wasn't alone.  The Ayatollah's hatred also reached into those Iranians who wanted them overthrown.
Key Impacts on the Iranian People (1979–2026)
• Systematic Repression and Human Rights Violations: The regime has maintained power through the "iron fist" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), brutally suppressing dissent. This has included mass executions (notably in 1988), torture in prisons, and the violent crackdown on nationwide protests (2009, 2019, 2022).
• Social and Cultural Control: The government enforced strict Islamic codes, including mandatory veiling for women and restricting freedoms of speech, assembly, and press. This created a "dual culture" where many citizens are forced to live double lives, behaving differently at home than in public to avoid government punishment.
• Economic Misery and Inequality: Decades of US sanctions, coupled with internal corruption and mismanagement, have resulted in high inflation and high unemployment, particularly among educated youth. The economy has been heavily tilted toward the IRGC, creating a wealthy elite while the middle class has struggled.
• Marginalization of Women: Women have been systematically treated as second-class citizens, with rights stripped away and intense focus placed on controlling their behavior, sparking major movements like "Woman, Life, Freedom".
• International Isolation: Confrontational foreign policy led to sustained conflict with the West and Israel, causing economic isolation and contributing to a "lost half-century" of development compared to other regional neighbors. 
Why the Rule Sustained for 47 Years
• Ideology of Resistance: The regime utilized the concept of velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist) to establish a theocracy where the Supreme Leader holds absolute authority, placing religious law above democratic processes.
• Ruthless Security Apparatus: The IRGC and Basij militias have been instrumental in quickly and violently eliminating opposition figures and suppressing uprising movements.
• 
  
• No Exit Strategy: As the regime became more isolated, the political elite felt they had no escape (unlike the Shah's era) and were forced to defend their survival, making them more resilient against internal pressure. 
As of early 2026, many reports indicated that the regime faced its deepest crisis, with protesters directly calling for its overthrow.
They have rebelled, and most are following the Crown Prince who is trying to help them.  The Ayatollah power has killed over 30,000 of them.  Opposition & Independent Estimates: Reports from opposition media, such as Iran International, and various medical professionals have estimated the death toll to be significantly higher, with figures ranging from 30,000 to over 36,500, others even higher yet.  
• Consolidation of Power: The regime successfully eliminated moderate and leftist allies following the 1979 revolution, monopolizing power within the clerical class.
• Yet Trump has been talking of putting in the son of Ali K. as the next leader he can deal with.  Reports are that this person is even meaner than his father was.  

Today's Fight With Iran Bringing Back Thoughts of Fighting Hamas Tactics Leading to Iranian Tousi

 Nadene Goldfoot                                     

One of the threats coming out of the Ayatollah regime is to have children surround the places the USA is bound and determined to bomb today such as the bridges and power plants.  This has caused panic in USA commentators.  How terrible! They realize.  Such a horrid thing to do, and against rules of war.

Speaking of power plants, we have learned that the Iranian people who have been demonstrating against the Ayatollah regime have been doing so at night without electricity.  The Ayatollah turned off all internet power, as well, so they have been hurt doubly.  (Luckily, an Iranian man named Mahyad Tousi (b: 1973) in England has arranged filming to come out of Iran and let us know some of what's been happening.   I was delighted to read that he was born in Portland, Oregon, where I was born, raised and am now.  I found that on Wikipedia.  

Yes, Portland, Oregon, received a number of Iranian immigrants and students during the 1972-73 period. While the largest wave of Iranian immigration occurred following the 1979 Revolution, a steady flow of students and professionals had been settling in Oregon, particularly in the Portland metropolitan area, since the 1950s and 1960s, with numbers increasing in the early 1970s. 

This all started with the government not providing water to run or food to be in store, and most all are now jobless as well !  They have nothing to live for, except the hope and provision that that Crown Prince Pavlavi, the son of the Shah of Iran, has been giving them from the USA.  Also, Israel has been helping in many ways as well.  

"Trump says he's "not at all" concerned about committing war crimes as he continues to threaten the destruction of Iran's bridges and power plants if they don't meet a Tuesday evening deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.     

The president described the consequences that Iran would face if it didn't reach a deal with the U.S. by Trump's 8 p.m. Tuesday deadline."We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night," Trump said during his Monday news conference.  "                   

The first thought that came to my mind is that this is exactly what Hamas terrorists have been doing in the fighting with Israel.  They have staked out their positions in mosques, hospitals, Arab schools, places their own people congregate including their own homes, to expect their deaths will cause the fervor against the Jews of Israel.  They do this hoping for Jews to get a bad rep with the world for killing their children and "innocent civilians."  

No one really raised and eyebrow at the thought of Israel doing this on purpose !!! No one really knew the minds of Jews in or out of Israel;  our belief system including the President, to think such ugly thoughts that Jews would do such a thing.  It was okay with the world to hate Israel for it, as didn't the Arabs?  Such anti-Semitism has been going on  all along.  Commentators had that tone in their voice that of course everyone felt this way about Israel; fighting in such devious ways of hitting Arab civilians on purpose.  But now, how could the president plan such a thing???

When Israel realized what Hamas was doing, they did all they humanly could to keep these innocents alive;  broadcasting their presence, phoning, bulletins dropped by plane, every which way.  The war was a declared war.  Hamas had been killing Israelis.  They were not going to continue and kill Jews, felt Israel;. so they had to be stopped.  

I'm one of those rare people still living who was a child of World War II.  I remember the news in the newspapers and how they fought.  We had family in Germany that had been trying to get out.  Jews had been attacked in many ways; in their work, socially, economically, from 1930 on till the USA got into it in 1941.  Nazis even followed them into the USA at the time.  So I can't remember a time when such hatred and conniving wasn't going on against people like me. 

Resource:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-trump-holds-news-conference-after-unleashing-latest-threat-against-iran

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahyad_Tousi

https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/iranians-in-oregon/#:~:text=Between%2010%2C000%20and%2015%2C000%20people,created%20an%20Islamic%2Dbased%20government.