Kaftar

Muaawiya Bin Abi Sufyan was the first Umayyad Caliph, who ruled as a just and jovial leader until his death in 683 AD. Known for his sense of humour and his love for women, Abi Sufyan was famous for a story that took place in his own harem.

While escorting a woman for the Khorasan region in modern day Iran, a beautiful woman entered the harem and mesmerised the Leader of All Believers. With his pride in his manhood and prowess in the bed arena, Abi Sufyan did not hesitate to engage in a brazen and manly sexual act in front of the Khorasani woman, who was patiently waiting for her turn. After he was done, he turned victoriously to his first concubine and asked her how to say ‘lion' in Persian - in a direct analogy to his sexual performance.  The Khorasani woman, unamused, told him slyly, that lion is kaftar in Persian. The Caliph went back to his Court ever so jubilant and told his subjects – repeatedly – that he was one lucky kaftar.

His subjects started giggling and explained to him that kaftar actually means a lame hyena. He was bragging endlessly that he was futile in bed. Being light-hearted himself, he took the prank well and commended the Khorasani woman for her wits and courage. It is unclear whether he showed such understanding when they were again joined to consummate their Caliph-concubine arrangement.

Now this story serves as an excellent analogy to what happened a few days earlier during the visit of Japan’s Prime Minister to the USA. During the Japanese leader's stay in the US, President Trump said that defending against the nuclear and missile threats from North Korea was a “very, very high priority.” In a joint statement with the Japanese counterpart, the two leaders urged North Korea “to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and not to take any further provocative actions.”

Two days later, North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the sea off its eastern coast.

The moment was ripe for Trump to become a loose cannon. However, he was poised and said: "I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent.” No raging threats, no UN recriminatory promises, no plans to wipe the Korean regime off the face of the planet or fencing it in. Only a statement that could have been drafted more eloquently by a 15 year old.

What happened was that North Korea caught the new President lying, and revealed his true colours. Its test went to show that the lion Trump is trying to portray himself to be was indeed a lame hyena that scavenges on the dead and weak. Boasting to the American public that he will take action and defend US interests, his reaction contradicted – for the first time – his promises and assurances.  North Korea is indeed the Khorasani woman who was supposedly a priority in the American agenda, but who was actually ignored by Trump who was distracted by other attractive stuff - his resort in Palm Beach.

Time will tell if Trump will ignore the incident and be content with the 'stern' statement, or take serious action to execute the policies he claims to defend. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un will be chuckling like a hyena for some time.