Ahmadinejad and the Islamic Apocalypse

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of Iran, awaits the coming of the Mahdi, the legendary twelfth Imam who disappeared down a well in 941 AD. Muslims believe that the Mahdi has been hidden, like the sun is hidden by a cloud, until such time that he will be revealed to conquer the world for Islam. Ahmadinejad full heartedly believes that the Mahdi’s return is imminent within the next four years.

The Mahdi is an apocalyptic and messianic figure who symbolizes the return of Islam’s glory years. Many westerners forget that Islam once almost conquered the world if it were not for Charles Martel. The Muslim world has never forgotten though and they covet the day when their religion will be justified in the eyes of the world.

The Koran itself teaches in Surah 4:89 that good Muslims should, “Seize them (infidels) and slay them wherever you may find them.” Surah 9:29 states, “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the last day.” Most Muslims are peaceful, but those that interpret these passages as being unabrogated and literal need little more encouragement to fight for pan-Islamic fascism.

As one of the Mahdi’s faithful, Ahmadinejad hopes to usher in this new world of Islamic domination and to lay vast power at the Mahdi’s disposal; namely a nuclear weapon. In the words of Khomeini who said in 1981, "I say let Iran go up in smoke, provided Islam emerges triumphant in the rest of the world."

Religious liberals do not begin to understand people who are true believers of any faith. They think that since their own religion is something they may check at the door, that all they really need to do is to discuss issues in rational dialogue. For a true believer, the art of persuasion does not exist. They are on a juggernaut trail to complete their mission for god.

Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to New York is likely only a game of smoke and mirrors as he tries to buy precious time for the development of his nuclear ambitions. A nuclear Iran is a horrible thing to contemplate. Will people continue to choose to ignore his previous words?

· "Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury."

· "Remove Israel before it is too late and save yourself from the fury of regional nations."

· "The skirmishes in the occupied land are part of a war of destiny. The outcome of hundreds of years of war will be defined in Palestinian land. As the Imam said, Israel must be wiped off the map."

· "If the West does not support Israel, this regime will be toppled. As it has lost its raison d' tre, Israel will be annihilated."

· "Israel is a tyrannical regime that will one day will be destroyed."

· "Israel is a rotten, dried tree that will be annihilated in one storm."

· "Israel is destined for destruction and will soon disappear"

· Israel is "a contradiction to nature, we foresee its rapid disappearance and destruction."

· “Imam [Khomeini] said: ‘This regime that is occupying Quds [i.e. Jerusalem] must be eliminated from the pages of history.’ This sentence is very wise. The issue of Palestine is not an issue on which we can compromise… Very soon this stain of disgrace [i.e. Israel] will be purged from the centre of the Islamic world – and this is attainable… This will be a short period, and if we pass through it successfully, the process of the elimination of the Zionist regime will be smooth and simple.”

Do we really want this man to have the bomb?