Mark Knight explores many arms of Iran through octopus metaphor

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is the Australia’s government’s spy agency, protecting us from acts of foreign interference, sabotage*, espionage*, politically motivated violence and terrorism.

Just like in the movies, whether it’s 007 James Bond or Ethan Hunt’s many impossible missions, countries are constantly looking to undermine* other countries through undercover actions. ASIO is there to detect these hostile actors (not Daniel Craig or Tom Cruise) and protect Australia’s interests as well as Australian citizens.

This week ASIO boss Mike Burgess announced that the spate* of attacks in Australia on Jewish places of worship and businesses were controlled by Iran. It came as quite a shock to Aussies that the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne, was ordered by a nation on the other side of the world.

It seems unbelievable that Iran would target a small house of worship in a Melbourne suburb many thousands of kilometres away in the southern hemisphere, but according to ASIO’s intelligence that is what has happened. It is the same with the arson terror attack in Sydney on the Lewis Continental Kitchen.

“Iran attacked a kitchen in Sydney?”, I hear you ask.

ASIO’s Mr Burgess said these and other anti-Semitic terror attacks were directed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps* (IRGC) through local criminals on the ground here in Australia. People have been arrested and charged by police with the attacks. On hearing the news, the Australian Government severed diplomatic relations with Iran and expelled its ambassador in Canberra. Prime Minister Albanese said there was no place in Australia for foreign wars to be brought here.

The news inspired me to draw a cartoon on the subject. Like most people, I was surprised and distressed that a large nation like Iran would organise attacks on Jewish targets in suburban Australia. It demonstrated the reach of terrorism around the world.

Iran is known for sponsoring several major terrorist organisations such as Hamas*, Hezbollah*, Islamic Jihad* and the Houthis in Yemen*, just to name a few. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 in Iran, it has established these “proxies*” to act in Iran’s interests. The basis of their ideology* is the destruction of the state of Israel.

Sometimes when I’m not one hundred per cent sure of an idea, I just start sketching or doodling. I started sketching the Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Then I was thinking about the reach of Iran’s terror network, and all its proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, and it reminded me of an octopus, with all its tentacles reaching out in various directions and grasping onto things.

The drawing of Khamenei then morphed into an octopus with its tentacles labelled as proxies of Iran. Then I had to add in the ASIO aspect to the story. Mike Burgess is good to draw, Bald-headed, bespectacled and a serious looking chap. I added him into the drawing but I was still not quite sure what action he would be taking.

I listen to the words of politicians carefully and when our Prime Minister said we had “severed relations” with Iran, it gave me an idea on what action our spy chief would be taking. I gave him a large axe and the tentacle holding a jerry can of petrol reaching out to Australia has been justifiably severed by the ASIO director.

Some theatrical blood spurts from the wound to emphasise the act.

Of course there are many more tentacles to that creature and that is why ASIO must remain ever vigilant* – and why I will continue to draw Mike Burgess looking serious.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• sabotage: deliberately damaging or destroying equipment, weapons, or buildings in order to prevent the success of an enemy or competitor
• espionage: secretly collecting and reporting information, especially secret political, military, business, or industrial information
• undermine: to slowly weaken or destroy, making something or someone less effective
• spate: sudden rush of events that happen suddenly and at about the same time
• anti-Semitic: behaviour that is characterised by hostility or hatred toward Jewish people
• Hamas: militant listed terror organisation and Islamist movement dedicated to the establishment of an independent Islamic state in historical Palestine
• Hezbollah: militant listed terror an organisation of Shiite Muslims based in Lebanon
• Islamic Jihad Group (IJG): according to the UN, IJG is a terrorist organisation that has been active in Central Asia
• Houthis in Yemen: a member of a militant Shiite Muslim terror group based in Yemen
• proxies: authorities given to other people or organisations to act for another
• ideology: a particular set of ideas and beliefs, especially one on which a political system, party, or organisation is based
• vigilant:being very careful to notice things, especially signs of danger

EXTRA READING

Gold leadership Logie goes to …

‘Peace in our time’ blast from past

Shaky ceasefire between Israel, Iran

QUICK QUIZ

1. What is ASIO?
2. Who are the two fictional spy characters Mark Knight refers to?
3. Who did the Australian Government sever relations with this week?
4. Who was expelled from Canberra?
5. What are at least two proxy militia terror groups aiding Iran’s reach

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
Audio to come

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
What would Mike do?
What do you think our ASIO director, Mike Burgess, might do for fun? Be inspired by cartoonist Mark Knight’s ideas and create a drawing, cartoon or write a story that shows what a serious ASIO Director might like to do for fun in his spare time!

Time: allow at least 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English

2. Extension
Imagine that you could interview Mike Burgess about his role for Kids News. Write at least five questions you would ask him. Use information in the story and maybe your research skills to write the answers that you think he might give.

Time: allow at least 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English

VCOP ACTIVITY
Describe it
Look at the cartoon and make a list of five nouns that you see. Then describe those five nouns with five adjectives. Now add a preposition to those five nouns and adjectives.

Finally, choose your favourite bundle and put all the words together to make one descriptive sentence.

(For lower reading level articles, remove “add a preposition”)