Nigeria, March 1 -- War rarely begins with fire. It begins with a question. What must be done to prevent something worse? What follows is rarely the answer anyone expects. Israeli and American officials have publicly stated that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in yesterday's strikes. Iranian state media and government authorities have denied those claims, insisting that he remains alive and directing national affairs. At the time of writing, independent confirmation from neutral international agencies has not been established. If the reported death is verified, it would mark one of the most consequential developments in modern geopolitics. To understand the weight of this moment, one must understand the road that...