In the BBC article Mosul Battle: Remembering Iraqi Special Forces Soldier Spongebob, the author, AYMAN OGHANNA, describes the night that made the soldier Ahmed a legend. I had the article posted to my bedroom wall for two years because I wrote a book based on it (Made in Mosul). I recommend that you read the article (and my book) and reflect on the parallels between ancient and modern times.

The way the 'policemen' stopped and captured Ahmed echoes times of great friction when past empires occupied and administered these lands. They captured an enemy instrument. He collaborates with the invaders. To nab him means to have received someone who’s part of the war machine that orchestrates their miseries and privations.

He must be dealt with!

He must be processed!

If we let him go, he’ll do more things that ruin our lives and starve our children! He’ll get us killed!

So, they take him back to their urban redoubt.

Maybe we can squeeze something out of him that will help us save ourselves from the cruel fate that awaits us under the occupation of this army of devils. They are evil. They are against God. We must resist. Take him away! y’allah!

This is Spy - politics and conflict of the day.

And this is Spirit - the same fears and desires from wars centuries past appearing in the same places today.