For those of a cynical persuasion, it's difficult to ignore the similarities between Islamic State's brand of puritanical Islam and Saudi Arabia's propagation of Wahhabism. Put simply, indoctrinating the masses with an ultra orthodox ideal that breeds intolerance sows the seeds of extremism and on that score, Riyadh and Raqqa are really no different. Indeed, Kamel Daoud, a columnist for Quotidien d'Oran, and the author of "The Meursault Investigation" recently described the Saudis as "an ISIS that made it." 

Still, the US (and the international community in general) turns a blind eye to the problem and Washington counts Riyadh as one of its closest geopolitical allies. Indeed, The Pentagon and the CIA are now part of a Saudi-led effort to arm and fund Sunni extremists operating in Syria. In short, Washington and its regional allies (which include Qatar) are engaged in the perpetuation of the same type of terrorism that just this month left 130 people dead in France, killed dozens of innocent civilians in Beirut, and led to the explosion that brought down a Russian passenger plane over the Sinai Peninsula killing all 224 people on board. Now, those incidents will be trotted out as an excuse to demonize Muslims residing in Western countries when it was Western governments that created the problem in the first place by supporting Sunni extremists and using radicalized Muslims as a tool to effect regime change across the Mid-East. 

Meanwhile, Shiite Iran is branded a pariah state by the US and is considered to be evil incarnate by Washington's ally in Jerusalem. True, the Ayatollah doesn't help matters by habitually whipping the populace into an anti-America frenzy, but at the end of the day, one would be hard pressed to make a convincing case that the US is on the right side when it comes to picking allies in the Mid-East.

Indeed, it's Tehran that's proven to be the most effective (with the possible exception of the Kurds) at battling Islamic State and although it now appears that Iran may be funneling guns and money to the Taliban (a rather unlikely alliance made necessary by the rise of ISIS), it would behoove Washington to reassess its position in the region because as it stands, America is on the wrong side.

It's with that in mind that we bring you the following open letter from Ayatollah Khamenei addressed to the youth in Western countries. It's presented without further comment.

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To the Youth in Western Countries,

The bitter events brought about by blind terrorism in France have once again, moved me to speak to you young people.  For me, it is unfortunate that such incidents would have to create the framework for a conversation, however the truth is that if painful matters do not create the grounds for finding solutions and mutual consultation, then the damage caused will be multiplied.

The pain of any human being anywhere in the world causes sorrow for a fellow human being.  The sight of a child losing his life in the presence of his loved ones, a mother whose joy for her family turns into mourning, a husband who is rushing the lifeless body of his spouse to some place and the spectator who does not know whether he will be seeing the final scene of life- these are scenes that rouse the emotions and feelings of any human being.  Anyone who has benefited from affection and humanity is affected and disturbed by witnessing these scenes- whether it occurs in France or in Palestine or Iraq or Lebanon or Syria. 

Without a doubt, the one-and-a-half billion Muslims also have these feelings and abhor and are revolted by the perpetrators and those responsible for these calamities. The issue, however, is that if today's pain is not used to build a better and safer future, then it will just turn into bitter and fruitless memories. I genuinely believe that it is only you youth who by learning the lessons of today's hardship, have the power to discover new means for building the future and who can be barriers in the misguided path that has brought the west to its current impasse.  

Anyone who has benefited from affection and humanity is affected and disturbed by witnessing these scenes- whether it occurs in France or in Palestine or Iraq or Lebanon or Syria.