The World Islands

The Pursuit of Abundance in a Bureaucratic System

Lessons learned in government about power, caution, and why change so often stalls from the inside.

Published on The Bench • Dec 4

November 2025

Is A Ceasefire In Ukraine Such A Bad Idea?

As long as it is not confused with a permanent peace.

Nov 30 • 

Shay Khatiri

5

1

1

Whose Fault Are the Groypers?

Other than their parents

Nov 19 • 

Shay Khatiri

5

2

4

From Berlin to Beijing, It's All Eurasia

A brief history of 2,000 years

Nov 18 • 

Shay Khatiri

4

1

1

Introducing The World Islands

And The Right Struggle

Nov 17 • 

Shay Khatiri

3

What Darius Feared—And the Mullahs Have Wrought

Lies, Enemies, and Drought

Nov 10 • 

Shay Khatiri

3

October 2025

Netanyahu Isn't Getting the Credit He Deserves for the Ceasefire

And Trump deserves credit too, but not for brokering the ceasefire.

Oct 16 • 

Shay Khatiri

4

2

September 2025

Qatar Is Using Its Influence on European Soccer to Get Israel Banned

It started with a lunch involving Sarkozy; billions of dollars later...

Sep 29 • 

Shay Khatiri

1

2

Quick Hits on Palestine and Russia

Summary: One is not a state. The other one, unfortunately, is.

Sep 24 • 

Shay Khatiri

4

1

August 2025

There Are No Tradeoffs in Iran—Only Shortages

Scarcity of everything

Aug 5 • 

Shay Khatiri

2

2

July 2025

Where's Albert?

The [not-at-all] curious case of Khamenei's absence

Jul 10 • 

Shay Khatiri

6

3

June 2025

Hold Your Horses on the Damage Assessment

Ignore the CNN story.

Jun 24 • 

Shay Khatiri

5

1