Yesterday marked a year since the killing of Iranian Quds Force leader Qassem Suleimani. One year on, a carefully crafted and tactical story in which he is the saviour of Iran and a regional leader to be reckoned with is being built up. Despite his death, Suleimani's grand strategy remains.
He was the former leader of the foreign branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a hugely influential state within a state that is tasked with preserving the revolutionary zeal of Iran's regime and exporting its ideology. During his long career, he became the prime architect of Tehran's militant and destabilising web of proxies across the Middle East.
Editorials from The National
He had profited from a symbolic power even before his death, enjoying a unique degree of popular appeal in Iran, rarely the case for IRGC officials, who many view as corrupt. Over the years, he cast himself as a nationalistic defender of Iran's sovereignty, even though the battles he fought were on the lands of others, using foot soldiers from countries as varied as Afghanistan and Yemen. The entire purpose of Suleimani's organisation was to sow extra-territorial subversion.
Nonetheless, images repeatedly circulate in Iran of huge turnouts at his funeral last year, his coffin touring the country draped in flags, flowers and religious symbols. This ignores the killings for which he is responsible, and the hypocrisy at the heart of his mission. Victims of his militias enjoy no such ceremony. And yet, anniversary gatherings in his support, such as one recently outside Baghdad airport, show that even abroad some remain enraptured by his mythical status, and willing to mourn a man responsible for the deaths of many of their fellow countrymen.
Constant circulation of images from his funeral whitewashes the many deaths for which he was responsible
He was instrumental to Iran’s war effort in the Iran-Iraq War, sometimes referred to as the "Middle East's First World War", given the widespread use of trench warfare and its huge death toll. He is lionised as Iran's bulwark against ISIS, even though he was allied with the US in that battle and relied on the international coalition to operate in ISIS-controlled areas. And while his forces did play a role, it is important to remember that subversion by Iranian-backed militias stunted Iraqi security for years, paving the way for ISIS to spread as much as it did. This, unsurprisingly, is not part of Tehran's version of events. Mention is also not given to the fact that outside Iran, he was widely resented, especially in countries central to his strategy, such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. His freedom to do as he pleased under the flawed terms of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was a primary reason many in the region opposed the agreement.
The collective memory of Suleimani that Iran's leadership is manufacturing cannot go on unchallenged. Showing Tehran's belligerence for what it is will require a more realistic picture of Suleimani. Providing one should not be difficult, however, given the many crimes that he committed. Winning this battle of narratives, and countering an image of Suleimani as a type of freedom fighter when in reality he committed great crimes, will benefit the people of the Middle East, including Iranians, who live under the constant threat posed by the paranoid alternative reality provided by Tehran's leadership.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
MATCH INFO
BRIGHTON 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 3
McTominay 44'
Mata 73'
Pogba 80'
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Fulham 0
Aston Villa 3 (Grealish 4', Hourihane 15', Mings 48')
Man of the match: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
THURSDAY'S FIXTURES
4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors
6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils
8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers
Al Jazira's foreign quartet for 2017/18
Romarinho, Brazil
Lassana Diarra, France
Sardor Rashidov, Uzbekistan
Mbark Boussoufa, Morocco
