Today, three contemporary anti-heroes command global history-altering influence. Their messianic views, immense egos, disregard for truth, joylessness and cold-hearted inhumanity single them out as headline hooligans of an unheroic age. Step forward Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump – the riders of the storm, the three witches of a hexed, unhappy, warring world.
Then there is Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister. His insistence on keeping occupation troops in Gaza is blocking a ceasefire deal. Last week, he launched a lethal “re-invasion” of the West Bank. He aches to invade Lebanon, too. More than 40,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in Gaza since the 7 October Hamas massacres. Like Putin, Netanyahu is accused of crimes against humanity.
Trump, the US presidential hopeful, is a different kind of monster, one who tried to murder American democracy. He prefers ducking out to invading, as in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Venezuela and North Korea. Trump won’t stand with Europe, Nato, Ukraine, Japan or Taiwan. But he’s a killer all the same, witness his 2020 assassination of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani. Trump was re-indicted last week for his 6 January 2021 coup attempt.
All three lie habitually, careless of honesty or honour. They exploit biased media, thrive off corrupt practices and employ bully pulpit rhetoric to get their way. Like ranting demagogues of old, Trump can skilfully rally a rabble. Netanyahu just shouts and threatens. Putin tends to smirk, snarl and snivel and hide when things go wrong, as in the region of Kursk right now…
Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News 
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