Following revolutions, we Americans have a touching inclination to ask: "Are the new leaders like us? Are they moderates who believe in tolerance and peaceful coexistence?"

Generally, the answer is no.

Take the revolution that just occurred in Syria. It was led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. He runs Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a rebel group with roots in both al Qaeda and the Islamic State (also known as ISIS). He and HTS have been officially designated as terrorists by the U.S. government.

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Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, liked to chant "Death to Israel!" and "Death to America!" Ali Khamenei, who succeeded him in 1989, designed a strategy to make progress toward those goals.

Mr. Khamenei organized, funded and armed terrorist groups in the lands surrounding Israel.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett likened these proxies to the tentacles of an octopus. As long as Israel was busy wrestling with them, the octopus' head could rest safely in Tehran.

Meanwhile, Mr. Khamenei's scientists were developing nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver them to targets anywhere — America included.

This shrewd strategy has unraveled — significantly, though not completely.

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Do you recall the Cedar Revolution?

Almost 20 years ago, the Lebanese rose against Syria's domination of their country, including an occupation force of roughly 14,000 Syrian troops and a government that was all too eager to do Damascus' bidding.

The Cedar Revolution slogan: "Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence."

The Lebanese now have a chance to say those words again; to fight Cedar Revolution 2.0; to end the domination of Tehran and Hezbollah, the Islamist regime's foreign legion, and those toadies who collaborate with them.

This opportunity is a gift from Israel. Are there Lebanese patriots with the guts and gumption to take advantage of it?

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For more than a year, Israel has been fighting a brutal multifront war against Iran's rulers and their terrorist proxies: Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Shia militias in Syria and Iraq.

Last week, Israel also was attacked by enemies in New York, Washington, and The Hague. Although these were not kinetic battles, they did damage.

First attack: On Nov. 20, 14 members of the UN Security Council voted in favor of a resolution that did not call on Hamas to release its hostages – Americans among them – as a precondition for a ceasefire in Gaza.

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Dear Mr. President/President-elect:

Congratulations! You're the Comeback Kid! Not many 78-year-olds win that title.

In my Washington Times column last week – which I'm sure you read! – I offered President Biden a to-do list for his lame-duck days. Will he take my advice? Stranger things have happened.

I'm not going to advise you today. Instead, I'm going to remind you of something Clare Boothe Luce, a 20^th century journalist, diplomat, congresswoman, and playwright, told John F. Kennedy. (Credit where credit is due: I learned this from a column Peggy Noonan wrote 15 years ago.)

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