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.