The Sixth Crusade: Global War from Gaza to Tehran

Historian Roy Casagranda argues that the U.S.-Israel "War on Terror" is a modern-day Crusade, rooted in European colonialism and racism. He describes Israel as a European settler-colonial project backed by Western powers, using propaganda to portray Arabs and Muslims as threats. Casagranda likens Israel's racial hierarchy to apartheid and criticizes the U.S. for deep anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiment. He warns that as white dominance declines globally, backlash may grow more violent-but sees hope in Gen Z, rising global powers, and increasing cultural exchange.

1. The US-Iran Paradox and War Fatigue

• The U.S. harbors hostility toward Iran, but unlike Iraq or Afghanistan, Iran's power deters military confrontation.
• Casagranda notes: "You couldn't defeat Iraq or win in Afghanistan-how are you going to beat Iran?"

2. Modern Crusades and Historical Parallels

• Casagranda views the post-WWI colonial carve-up of the Middle East (Sykes-Picot) as the Fifth Crusade.
• He recounts how a French general reportedly kicked Saladin's tomb after conquering Damascus, saying, "Saladin, we're back."
• The British saw taking Jerusalem as fulfilling the unfinished goal of Richard the Lionheart.

3. Israel as a European Settler-Colonial Project

• Israel is framed as a European export, led by Ashkenazi Jews, who recreate European racial hierarchies.
• Internal Israeli racism mirrors apartheid: Ashkenazi at the top; Mizrahi, Sephardic, and Ethiopian Jews marginalized.
• Israel bans or discourages Jewish languages like Yiddish and Ladino to manufacture a more "authentic" Middle Eastern identity.

4. Zionism and Antisemitism

• Casagranda provocatively asserts many American Zionists are motivated by antisemitism: they prefer Jews to live elsewhere (i.e., Israel), not in the West.
• He calls this a "Hitler's dream" scenario-Jews removed from Europe and made to kill fellow Semites (Palestinians).

5. The Use of Propaganda

• Israel relied on two mechanisms to justify its actions post-1948:
  1. Racism-Western comfort with valuing white lives over brown ones.
  2. Propaganda-portraying Arabs/Muslims as inherently antisemitic.
• Even false flag terrorist attacks were staged to amplify fear of Arabs.

6. The War on Terror as the Sixth Crusade

• Casagranda agrees with the framing of the War on Terror as the Sixth Crusade, a civilizational war against Islam.
• He emphasizes how deep anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiments remain embedded in American society.

7. Personal Experience of Racism

• Recalling a protest in 1991, a woman told him, "You deserve to die like the Iraqis."
• He realized then that genocidal attitudes against Arabs were socially acceptable in the U.S.

8. Race, Identity, and Colorism

• He traces colorism to Christian Spain, where skin tone was linked to religious "purity."
• This legacy shaped European racism, deeply influencing colonial attitudes toward Arabs and Muslims.

9. Demographic Shift and White Panic

• The U.S. white population is numerically shrinking; in states like Texas, whites are already a minority.
• Trump's rise is seen as a reaction to this demographic decline, a final grasp at maintaining white supremacy.

10. Global Power Shifts & Hope

• Casagranda finds hope in:
  • Gen Z, whom he sees as globally conscious and more tolerant.
  • The GCC and Africa's emerging economies.
  • A potential post-Modi India, returning to democratic pluralism.
  • The idea that contact with "the other" reduces hatred, especially in diverse cities vs. rural isolation.

11. Conclusion: End of Empire?

• He believes we are witnessing the violent decline of the American empire, mirroring historical patterns.
• "Empires usually collapse violently... My hope is that the U.S. doesn't take the world down with it."

Roy Casagranda is a Professor of Government at Austin Community College, where he teaches political science with a focus on Middle Eastern affairs and Western imperialism . He earned his PhD in Germanic Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017. A prolific public speaker and media commentator, Casagranda also founded the Austin School lecture series and frequently speaks on issues of race, empire, and global politics.