iran putting troops in to iraq..

it looks like iran is purposely placing troops in iraq to confront us forces. obviously, this adds suspense to the unfolding drama in that part of the world. rumsfeld doesn't seem amused..

interestingly the president's trip to india, pakistan, afghanistan and iraq would also have been a good time to inform our allies in that region of an impending attack on iran..

from world tribune:
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Rumsfeld: Iran has deployed elite forces in Iraq
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, March 10, 2006
WASHINGTON — Iran has deployed elite forces to confront the U.S. military in Iraq in what has been termed a major escalation, the Pentagon says.

"They are currently putting people into Iraq to do things that are harmful to the future of Iraq," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said. "It is something that they, I think, will look back on as having been an error in judgment."

Officials said Iran has deployed members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iraq in early 2006. They said the IRGC operatives helped foment unrest and bolster Shi'ite militias in Iraq amid sectarian violence triggered by the bombing of the Golden Dome mosque in Samara on Feb. 22.

In a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, Rumsfeld said Iran was deploying members of the Quds Brigade of the IRGC. The Quds Brigade has been regarded as the special operations forces and specialized in insurgencies abroad.

The brigade has been identified as the trainer and controller of Hizbullah in Lebanon. In February, National Intelligence director John Negroponte reported Iranian attempts to strike U.S. forces in Iraq.

"The Revolutionary Guard doesn't go milling around willy-nilly, one would think," Rumsfeld said. "Is it possible some more Iraqi civilians will be killed? Sure."

Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the reports of the Quds Brigade infiltration in Iraq marked the most recent of developments that stemmed from Iran. Pace said the military has assessed the number of IRGC fighters in Iraq, but would not elaborate.

Officials said the Quds Brigade was also believed to have brought weapons and relayed expertise for the assembly of improvised explosive devices. They said the Iranian-origin IEDs were shaped charges that could rip through U.S.-origin main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers.

"There have been some IEDs and some weapons that we believe are traceable back to Iran," Pace said.

Officials said the military has captured IEDs manufactured along the Iranian-Iraqi border in 2006. The IEDs were said to have been aimed at U.S. and British troops in a drive by Teheran to force an early coalition withdrawal from Iraq.

"We're working with the Iraqi government to enhance the capacity, the total numbers dedicated to border control, and also their capacity," Pace said.

olives & discourse, valleys & bones..

so, i've been having conversations with some of my friends about current events and the times we live in.. i tend to have a biblical worldview on things, as many of the events that are taking place today are direct fulfillment of Biblical prophecy..

now, a lot of people get the hair up on their neck when anyone mentions the word prophecy.. they seem to picture of some sort of comet cult or branch davidian in their mind.. i think that those who haven't read the Bible might think that, but those who are well read would think just the opposite. as a matter of fact Jesus predicts those types of people specifically in his olivet discourse..

anyway, i don't fancy myself as anything other than a reader of God's word and i put forth here the way i see it. i take it in a pretty common sense fashion.. i don't think a lot of it is as complicated as many would make it out to be..

you can ask my friends, i'm far from being a preacher, but i do have beliefs that i won't be moved in and i am more than happy to talk about them.

so, i'm gonna use this blog to walk through the olivet discourse and items relating to Israel and the return of the Jews to their God promised land..
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here is the text in the Bible relating to the olivet discourse.. this was given by Jesus to his disciples on the mount of olives.. (NIV)

1Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2"Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
interestingly, this prophecy was fulfilled in 70AD when titus' legion tore apart the temple brick by brick to get the gold flowing between the cracks after burning it..

3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
birth pains or pangs is important to note -- as with childbirth, Jesus is saying these pangs will be more frequent and more intense leading up to his return.

9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
not only was this true for the early Christian church, it is true today - look at www.persecution.com, and it will certainly be true after the rapture and during the tribulation..

15"So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25See, I have told you ahead of time.
Jesus references Daniel's prophecy relating to the antichrist here.. after the first 3.5 years of the 7 year tribulation, the anti-christ will step in to the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and declare himself god. this is the 'abomination that causes desolation.'

26"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

29"Immediately after the distress of those days " 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'

30"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
the fig tree parable is one of the more common ones associated with the rebirth of Israel. Jesus says (using Israel as the fig tree), the generation that sees the rebirth of the nation of Israel will not pass until his return.

some important dates to remember:
May 14, 1948 - Establishment of the State of Israel.
June 7, 1967 - Israel captured Jerusalem.

the other passage, as it relates to Israel coming back from the diaspora is in Ezekiel 37: (written 2600 years ago or so)

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."

4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath [a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' "

15 The word of the LORD came to me: 16 "Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, 'Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, 'Ephraim's stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.' 17 Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.

18 "When your countrymen ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?' 19 say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim's hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah's stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.' 20 Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on 21 and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, [b] and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
there has been literal fulfillment of much of this. Israel was almost called 'zion' when they declared their homeland in 1948. It was changed to Israel at the last moment. additionally, it's important to remember that Israel and Judah existed in a split sense for a very long time in Biblical times.. clearly God states that when he gathers the Jews from the 4 corners of the earth, it will be to a single Israel.. as it is today.

24 " 'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.' "
this is relating to the the time after the tribulation when Jesus returns and sets his reign from Jerusalem. After that 1000 year period, we will see the face of God as he sets up shop aside his son in a new Jerusalem. Remember, the lineage of Jesus was clearly outlined in the Bible before his birth

*From the Shemite branch of humanity (Genesis 9:26).
Through Abraham (Genesis 12:3).
Through Abraham's son, Isaac (Genesis 17:21).
Through Isaac's son, Jacob (Genesis 28:14).
Through the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:8).
Through the family of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1).
Through the house of David (Jeremiah 23:5).

this genealogic outline of the birth of Jesus was fulfilled to every detail when he was born in Bethlehem. also confirming the house of david ruling Israel through Jesus.

*Other prophecies related to the birth of the Messiah include the place of His birth (Micah 5:2), His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14); His divine name (Isaiah 7:14); the presentation of gifts to Him (Psalm 72:10-11); the massacre of children after His birth (Jeremiah 31:15); His escape into Egypt (Hosea 11:1); His residence in Nazareth (Matthew 2:23); His childhood poverty (Isaiah 53:2); and His Spirit-filled nature from birth (Isaiah 1:1-2). (*thanks to David Reagan for this info)
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ok, obviously, this is a lot to digest, but these are 2 of the most common passages relating to the rebirth of Israel and the soon return of Jesus. there are many, many more.. and i will get in to those at some point in the future.. just right now, i'm out of time.

the whole point of this is that we are indeed living in interesting times.. but i can't imagine a more exciting time to be alive!

neville chaimberlain, where art thou ??

if iran is willing to come out and clearly state their nuclear program is no longer 'peaceful,' it's just a matter of time before they use it or they are taken down a notch by the us and israel.

from worldnetdaily.com

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Iran negotiator announces:We duped West on nukes

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, in a speech to the nation's leading Islamic clerics and academics, has admitted what many in U.S. intelligence have been saying all along – namely, Tehran duped the West on its nuclear program by continuing its development while using diplomatic talks to lull the Europeans into inaction.

Hassan Rowhani led talks with the EU3 – Germany, France and the UK – until last year and part of his job, reports the London Telegraph, was to play for time after Iran's nuclear program was exposed by dissidents in 2002.

At the closed meeting of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution, Rowhani boasted that during talks to forestall Iran's nuclear program, which intelligence sources in the U.S. saw as part of an effort to build nuclear weapons, Tehran completed the installation of equipment needed to convert yellowcake at its Isfahan plant. The Europeans, he said, were convinced nothing was occurring at the plant.

"From the outset, the Americans kept telling the Europeans, 'The Iranians are lying and deceiving you and they have not told you everything.' The Europeans used to respond, 'We trust them'," he said.

Rowhani's frankness, it appears, was motivated by internal criticisms from hardliners that he had negotiated away too much in recent talks with the Europeans. His comments, published in a journal available to the regime's elite, seem designed to defend his performance.

"When we were negotiating with the Europeans in Teheran we were still installing some of the equipment at the Isfahan site," he said. "There was plenty of work to be done to complete the site and finish the work there. In reality, by creating a tame situation, we could finish Isfahan."
Rowhani's diplomatic skills were severely tested in September 2003 when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) demanded a "complete picture" of Iran's program.

"The dilemma was if we offered a complete picture, the picture itself could lead us to the U.N. Security Council," he said. "And not providing a complete picture would also be a violation of the resolution and we could have been referred to the Security Council for not implementing the resolution."

He also revealed two occasions where the IAEA learned of secret experiments from academic papers published by Iranian scientists.

Libya's decision to negotiate with the U.S. and Britain to end its own nuclear program brought to light the proliferation network run by Pakistan atomic scientist A.Q. Khan. Khan's role in supplying nuclear-related equipment to Libya, revealed in surrendered documents, also exposed the fact he had supplied advanced centrifuges to Iran.

Revelations of Rowhani's candor come on the eve of tomorrow's IAEA meeting to reassess Iran's banned nuclear operations. According to U.N. protocol, the IAEA review is the final step before Tehran's case is forwarded to the Security Council, where, if the facts dictate, sanctions may be imposed. Iran has just completed failed talks with Russia, which opposes U.N. sanctions, to find a way around the impasse.

On another matter, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an opposition group responsible for many of the revelations about Iran's secret program, has obtained a confidential parliamentary report revealing that Iran's legislators were unaware of the nuclear project and that it was funded off the books.

"Rowhani's remarks show that the mullahs wanted to deceive the international community from the onset of negotiations with EU3," said Mohammad Mohaddessin, the NCRI's foreign affairs chief, "and that the mullahs were fully aware that if they were transparent, the regime's nuclear file would be referred to the U.N. immediately."

quotes to die by..

when you think of the situation the world is forcing Israel in to, it fits right in with God's plan for the Jews..

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“We plan to eliminate the State of Israel and establish a purely Palestinian state.” — Yasser Arafat on Palestine Radio in November 1995.

“We won’t rest until we have Tel Aviv, Haifa, and all of Palestine, and the Jews are back in Poland.” — Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority.

“We do not and will not recognize a state called Israel . . . This land is the property of all Muslims in all parts of the world . . . Let Israel die!” — Mahmoud al-Zahar, senior Hamas leader.
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these are quotes from palesinian 'leadership'. these are the folks we're forcing Israel to deal with in the name of peace.

and today, from debka:

Hamas leaders on arrival in Moscow Friday announce they will not recognize Israel
March 3, 2006, 2:04 PM (GMT+02:00)

The six-man delegation led by Damascus-based politburo chief Khaled Meshaal was receied by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on day one of the three-day visit initiated by President Vladimir Putin. Mohammed Nazzal said: “The issue of recognition is a done issue. Meshaal added: The ball is now in Israel’s court. They have to first recognize the national rights of the Palestinians and then we will determine our position.”

Hamas, which will lead the next Palestinian government, has masterminded some 60 deadly suicide bombings against Israelis. The Islamist terrorist group is willing to consider a long-term ceasefire against unacceptable Israeli concessions but not renounce its vow to destroy the Jewish state.
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and as the iranian's, syrians and palestinians ratchet up their anti-Israel rhetoric.. we see the russians cozying up to all 3 more and more.. setting the stage for the eventual gog-magog invasion of israel..

Ezekiel 38-39 describes a Russian-led invasion of Israel in the"latter days" of history..

1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him 3 and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. 5 Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6 also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.

7 " 'Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. 8 After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. 9 You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.
10 "

'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. 11 You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. 12 I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land." 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, "Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?" '

14 "Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it? 15 You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. 16 You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

17 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them. 18 This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. 19 In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man's sword will be against his brother. 22 I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. 23 And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'

interestingly, from a passage writted 2600 years ago, we have the fulfilled prophesy of Israel and the Jews being regathered from the 4 corners of the earth.. we have the specific mention of russia and persia (modern day iran) along with a host of other islamic countries.. we have mention of the indecisive euro's asking 'why would you do such a thing?' -- all of this is in place.

ezekiel 39 goes on:

1 "Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 2 I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand. 4 On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals. 5 You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD. 6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the LORD.

7 " 'I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel. 8 It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD. This is the day I have spoken of.

the players are in place... the only odd exclusion is the united states of america. interestingly, the Bible talks about china - the kings of the east w/ a 200,000,000 man army.. russia - gog & magog invasion.. europe - the antichrist and reformed roman empire.. islamic countries - edom & persia, cush, put, etc.. and obviously Israel.. but no mention of the only superpower the world knows right now.. there are several options, the most alluring of which would be the rapture would take out the believers, leaving a nation crippled by the loss of many of it's leaders, military and business people.. the less appealing is a nation left ravaged by the results of terrorist attacks, financial collapse and/or internal moral decay.. nevertheless, all speculation aside, there is no mention of the united states or anything resembling the united states.

...may you live in interesting times.

signs of the times..

well, i've been away skiing.. my body is now rejecting my lungs since they were exposed to clean mountain air.. how dare i take my body away from this land of pollution and expose it to such pristine places !?!?

i found this article on hal lindsey's website..

i had some interesting discussions while skiing with some of my friends who aren't believers about the pertinence of bible prophesy in the times we live in.. so i think this is worth posting.

i'll probably be posting a few more of these items soon as well.. i need to document it all in one spot and this seems as good as any. we're living in interesting times as we watch literal fulfillment of Biblical prophesy before our eyes..

time is short, friend.
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Science Notes Unprecedented Pestlience
''There is something very unusual about the present time. . . ''

According to this week's London Sunday Times, 'deadly viruses are mutating to infect humans at rate never seen before' according to one headline.

At least thirty-eight new killer human pathogens have emerged in the past twenty-five years. Three quarters of those, including AIDS, avian flu, SARS and new variant CJD, originated as animal diseases.

A new survey from the University of Edinburgh identified 1400 pathogens that can infect humans. More than half crossed the species barrier from animals to man.

Mark Woolhouse, the study's author, said it was impossible that human beings had ever been exposed to so many new pathogens in such a short period of time in all of past history.
Woolhouse told The American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in St Louis; “The rate of accumulation we are seeing now is too fast to be supported over an evolutionary timescale. We would be overrun with pathogens. Either many of these pathogens will not persist in humans, or there is something very unusual about the present time.”

Indeed there is. In Jesus last great prophetic message, His disciples asked, "What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?"

Jesus predicted that shortly before His return, there would be signs of wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, global weather changes producing monster storms, and pestilence, which means deadly infectious diseases.

All these are part of today's headline news.

The Lord Jesus forewarned that in the last seven years before His Return there would be unprecedented catastrophe. Jesus warned that times would become so bad that, if the days were not shortened no one would be left alive.

We aren't in the Tribulation yet, but we can see the signs that indicate it is just around the corner. The Apostle John, in his apocalyptic vision of the breaking of the fourth seal judgment, wrote,

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the BEASTS OF THE EARTH.” (Revelation 6:8)

I have often puzzled over just what God meant by the prediction of “beast of the earth” causing tremendous death among mankind. I believe that the trans-mutation of virulent viruses from the animal kingdom now at least explains in part what was meant.
You know, I believe Dr. Woolhouse is right. There is something very unusual about this present time. The trans-mutation rate at which viruses are crossing over from animals to humans is unique and unprecedented.

This is another one of those “birth pangs” Jesus predicted would increase in frequency and intensity shortly before His Return.
Keep looking up.

fatwa authorizing use of nukes..

On February 16, 2006, the reformist Internet daily Rooz (www.roozonline.com ) reported for the first time that extremist clerics from Qom had issued what the daily called "a new fatwa," which states that "shari'a does not forbid the use of nuclear weapons."
The following are excerpts from the Rooz report by Shahram Rafizadeh: [1]
"When the Entire World is Armed With Nuclear Weapons, it is Permissible to Use These Weapons as a Counter-[Measure]"

"The spiritual leaders of the ultra-conservatives [in Iran] have accepted the use of nuclear weapons as lawful in the eyes of shari'a. Mohsen Gharavian, a disciple of [Ayatollah] Mesbah Yazdi [who is Iranian President Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor], has spoken for the first time of using nuclear weapons as a counter-measure. He stated that 'in terms of shari'a, it all depends on the goal.'

"The religious leadership of the Islamic Republic [of Iran], which has until now regarded the use of nuclear weapons as opposed to shari'a, and has repeated this point again and again, has so far kept silent about this. In spite of the fact that, in the last few weeks, some of the senior [leaders] of the Islamic Republic have tried to reduce the pressure [exerted by] the radical [conservatives], the radicals nevertheless seem to have complete control over the [political] arena.

"[Iranian National Security Council Secretary] Ali Larijani, who is in charge of the nuclear dossier, has spoken to reporters only once since the [IAEA] Board of Governors approved its resolution - and his silence is significant. [2] But yesterday, the IraNews news agency published recent remarks by Mohsen Gharavian regarding the nuclear issue. Gharavian is a lecturer at the religious schools of Qom, and is a disciple of [Ayatollah] Mesbah Yazdi. In his recent remarks, he said for the first time that the use of nuclear weapons may not constitute a problem according to shari'a. He further said that 'when the entire world is armed with nuclear weapons, it is permissible to use these weapons as a counter-[measure]. According to shari'a, too, only the goal is important...'

"[Gharavian] said that he sees no problem with the military use of nuclear weapons [sic]: 'One must say that when the entire world is armed with nuclear weapons, it is only natural that, as a counter-measure, it is necessary to be able to use these weapons. However, what is important is what goal they may be used for."

"The Ultra-[Conservatives] in Iran Have Launched a New Effort to Prepare the Religious Grounds for Use of These Weapons"

"This cleric, who is close to the government, also referred to the nuclear talks and to the future phases of the negotiations. He called the 'reporting' - rather than 'referring' - of the Iranian nuclear dossier [to the Security Council] playing with semantics, and said: 'The main goal of the West has been to put pressure on the Islamic Republic regime of Iran in order to generate fear. However, we will wait [to see] the future behavior of Europe and America, and then make the best decision.'

"Gharavian's statement is the first public statement by the Mesbah Yazdi group on the nuclear issue. Until now, none of the top-ranking religious [leaders] have authorized, on religious grounds, the use of nuclear weapons. But now it seems that the ultra-[conservatives] in Iran have launched a new effort to prepare the religious grounds for use of these weapons..."

"Mr. Ahmadinejad Has Managed to Take the Place of Bin Laden"

"Within the six months [of Ahmadinejad's presidency], all the achievements of former president Khatami in the international arena have been lost. Through strange proposals and radical approaches, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad managed, in a very short time, to get the world to forget all about bin Laden. Now all eyes are on the Islamic Republic, and everyone is talking about the danger it [poses]. Two weeks ago, the strategy of assaulting [foreign] embassies was formed as well. America regards Iran and Syria as being behind the recent violent incidents, including the setting fire to embassies in Islamic countries. Mr. Ahmadinejad has managed to take the place of bin Laden..."

iran + russia = love

Some late breaking news on the growing iran & russian cuddle puddle..

MOSCOW [MENL] -- Iran has quietly acquired three fighter-jets from Russia.
Russian industry sources said Teheran has procured three Su-25UBT twin-seat attack aircraft from Moscow. The sources said the contract was concluded in 2005 and deliveries would take place in 2006.
The deal marked the first Iranian purchase of the Su-25. In 2001, Iran negotiated with Georgia for surplus MiG-25s, but the two countries failed to reach agreement.
The sources said the Su-25UBT marked the most advanced model of the attack aircraft. They said the fighters received new electronic warfare and jamming systems.
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i think that we will see a stronger and stronger relationship grow between these two nations. russia is in deep with iran on the nuclear front and the money front. iran has money to spend, russia needs money.. add those 2 things together and you've got yourself a deal. ultimately we know that iran and russia will lead an attack against israel at some point.. whether that is after israel deals with iran's nukes or before, is yet to be seen. but as we see iran and syria develop closer and closer ties.. as well as the iranian backing of hamas and the muslim brotherhood in egypt, the table is set for the biblical gog-magog invasion of israel.. it's also set for the destruction of damascus.

interestingly, there are many people who feel israel is on the cusp of a major oil discovery which would propel israel on to the world market as an oil producer and make the state wildly affluent. this remains to be seen, however, zion oil (who is taking the lead on this) feels pretty strongly about their exploration efforts.

i can imagine nothing more insulting to the arabs (other than a cartoon) than israel finding oil wealth and being able to control the energy marketplace to a certain extent. this would incite israel's neighbors, who rely solely on oil revenue, to take measures to push israel out of the marketplace. that feeling would be exacerbated by a preemtive strike against iran and/or syria..

piss christ v. toon jihad

very well written & i thought i should share...
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Piss Christ vs. Cartoon Jihad
By Rocco DiPippo
FrontPageMagazine.com February 6, 2006

Back in 1988, Andres Serrano submerged a crucifix in a vat of his urine, photographed the result and called it “art.”

Naturally, many of the world's two billion Christians were bothered by his antics. Members of the U.S. Congress called for a hard look at the National Endowment for the Arts, which had helped fund Serrano. Public outcry against Serrano was vocal and widespread.

As the uproar grew, numerous editorials in defense of Piss Christ, Serrano's controversial creation, were printed in U.S. and European newspapers and the Western cultural elite quickly sprang to his defense. For months, the New York Times beat the “freedom of expression” drum for all its worth, publishing numerous articles and opinion pieces sympathetic to Serrano and depicting him as courageous. In New York City, where Serrano lived, 400 New York artists held a public rally in support of his work and his right to create and display it. Serrano became a celebrated art world hero.

Though some criticisms of Piss Christ, and the man who created it, were intemperate, Serrano's art was never forced underground, nor was his life seriously threatened, nor was he forced into hiding a la Salman Rushdie or placed in protective custody. Violence-prone packs of Christians did not roam the streets of Paris, or London, or Frankfurt, or Madrid, or New York calling for the head of Piss Christ's creator.

Serrano as “art star,” soon faded like the controversy caused by his tasteless creation. Today, as in the 1980s, he freely and openly produces provocative, blasphemous and often pornographic art including that which reflects the cultural elite's unending obsessions with, and deification of, homosexuality, transgenderism, and bodily mutilation. He never has, nor will he likely ever, push the outer limit of controversial artistic expression by creating work critical of, or disrespectful towards Islam.

Contrast the Christian reaction to Serrano's openly blasphemous Piss Christ, with that of the Muslim reaction to a series of cartoons recently published in the Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper.

Late last year, the Jyllands-Posten decided to test the limits of free speech by publishing a series of cartoons featuring the prophet Mohammed. Politicized and radicalized Muslims have reacted to their publication by calling for the deaths of the cartoonists, by beating up shopkeepers who sell Danish products and by holding vocal, and often violent, demonstrations.

Members of the terrorist Islamist “Glory Brigades” now threaten Denmark with homicide bombing. The murderous savages comprising Palestinian Islamic Jihad marched on the UN headquarters in Gaza, Palestinian thugs took over Gaza's European Union office to protest the cartoons and demand their removal. Danish flags are being torched and shops selling Danish products are being boycotted and vandalized all over the Arab and Muslim world. Even Libya got in on the act, closing its embassy in Copenhagen to protest the Danish government's refusal to force Jillyand-Posten to remove the cartoons.

Christianity is routinely mocked and vilified in most counties where Islam is the dominant religion. Countless thousands of Christians have, in recent years, paid the ultimate price for practicing their faith among Muslims, including three young Indonesian girls butchered by Muslim psychopaths as they walked to Christian school. Hate-filled anti-Semitic cartoons pepper the pages of Arab and Muslim newspapers. Programs meant to incite hatred of Judaism and violence against Jews are regularly featured on Arab Muslim television networks. And yet, politicized Muslims, who rarely, if ever, categorically condemn the barbarous acts of their co-religionists and often cheer those same acts, behave as if they desire to see “infidel” blood spilled over a series of provocative drawings. Is their religion not strong enough to withstand the cartoon assault on it?

The response to all this, from the appeasement-prone Western cultural elite, has been a predictable, Theo van Gogh-like silence. The response from the American main-stream media, a virtual news blackout.

In spite of the glaring lack of support by, ironically, those in America ideally positioned to suffer from any restrictions on free expression, Denmark and its government refuse to cave in and apologize to the Muslim cultural police, even as the leftwing government of Denmark's pathologically “tolerant” neighbor, Norway, stumbles down the path of dhimmitude by doing exactly what Denmark will not.

How can one support the Danes in their critical fight for freedom of expression? Easily: Contact the major American media outlets and ask them to publicly get behind the Danes. Urge them to defend the Jillyand-Posten's right to free expression as vigorously as they once defended the same rights of Andres Serrano.

A list of some MsM contact points and e-mail links follows:
Arthur Sulzberger, NY TimesWashington Post and NewsweekCBS NewsABC NewsNBC Nightly NewsNational Public Radio

Another thing you can do to show solidarity with Denmark is to purchase Danish products. Go to the History News Network for a listing of some outlets where you can buy fine Danish goods.

Most importantly, directly send the Jillyand-Posten a letter of support by clicking here.

Tell those who work there that you stand with them, and with all of Denmark, against anti-free speech Muslim radicals, whose ultimate goal is to dictate what the world sees, hears, and believes.
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lesser danish toon

we've already seen the islamic street's tolerance for any type of art that could be considered anti-islamic. so it should be of no surprise that after a danish cartoon depicting muhammed as a terrorist, the islamic street has erupted in protest & violence.. saudi arabia recalled it's ambassador from denmark, gunmen raided the EU office in gaza.. all of this over a cartoon.

i would really appreciate the same type of reaction from the islamic community over the genocide in Darfur.. a genocide perpetrated by islamic arabs against Christian and animist africans.. since Feb 2003, over 400,000 people have died at the hands of these muslims.. yet, there is silence on this topic in the islamic community.. just like there is silence when major terrorist attacks occur. 1.3 BILLION people, and not a word to say about the actions of the people who represent them in the name of allah.

HOWEVER, should there be a film or a cartoon or an essay about anything anti-islam, there are protests, CAIR statements, KILLINGS.. saudi arabia will recall it's ambassador, yet in it's embarassment of riches, will do nothing to prevent the genocide at the hands of islamists across the red sea..

so, in short, there is a double standard. the prosepect of a koran touching the ground seems to be far more important for news headlines than the death of hundreds of thousands in the name of allah.. its either that people don't care or they're too PC to call a spade a spade..

black market love..

from middle east newsline:
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ABU DHABI [MENL] -- Iran was said to have acquired a nuclear bomb.
A leading U.S. nuclear proliferation expert said Teheran obtained an atomic bomb about a decade ago from the nuclear black market. The expert said Iran sought to produce additional nuclear weapons through technology from Pakistan and other countries.

"The one functional device Iran has," Mansoor Ijaz, a U.S. nuclear scientist, said, "is the result of clandestine transfers from Pakistan's rogue black market nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, who sold the Iranians antiquated but highly effective Chinese bomb designs and parts, including spherical shell casings, spherical Krytron detonation switches and empirical software testing modules."

On Saturday, Iran threatened to launch a missile strike against the West. The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Maj. Gen. Rahim Safavi, said Teheran could retaliate with the Shihab-3 intermediate-range missile against what he termed was British efforts to foment unrest in western Iran.

finding those pesky WMD's

time for some news you won't read or see in the mainstream media.. the united nations has found that iraq sent wmd's out of town leading up to the second iraq war.. did you read that right ?? the UNITED NATIONS found this to be the case..
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from world tribune:

The United Nations has determined that Saddam Hussein shipped weapons of mass destruction components as well as medium-range ballistic missiles before, during and after the U.S.-led war against Iraq in 2003.

The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission briefed the Security Council on new findings that could help trace the whereabouts of Saddam's missile and WMD program.
The briefing contained satellite photographs that demonstrated the speed with which Saddam dismantled his missile and WMD sites before and during the war. Council members were shown photographs of a ballistic missile site outside Baghdad in May 2003, and then saw a satellite image of the same location in February 2004, in which facilities had disappeared..
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obviously, the notion that bush didn't lie and people died doesn't play well with the peaceniks out there.. i doubt seriously this UN report will get much coverage in the mainstream media..

then there is this little diddy in the Jerusalem post about saddam wanting to launch a WMD attack on israel in gulf war I..

The former deputy of the Iraqi air force, General Georges Sada, revealed on Saturday that that former dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, ordered him during the first Gulf War to bomb Israeli population centers with chemical weapons.

The ousted dictator, said Sada in recently published book, Saddam's secret's, ordered 96 Russian fighter jets to be armed with chemical weapons and sent to bomb Israel...

-----------------------
kinda interesting how a man without WMD was planning to use the WMD's he didn't have on Israel..

Seasonal Crudites with Hamas and Baba Ganoush

"You won't believe that this sophisticated spread is also perfect for phase 1. Asparagus, bell peppers and broccoli are arranged on a platter with your choice of hamas and baba ganoush for dipping."
Original recipe yield: 2 servings.
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mmmMMMmmm just makes you long for a healthy lunch, doesn't it ??

HAMAS WINS !! HAMAS WINS !! HAMAS WINS !!
so suicide bombing and jew hatred will get you elected in the muslim world.. this should be no surprise. israel is facing a bad situation gone worse.. the now 'legitimized' hamas, who still calls for the total destruction of israel, is in charge of the PA. washington will now be in the unique position to negotiate with terrorists if they want to continue the 'road map' to peace.. but, of course, we already know that the bush doctrine does not apply to israel's terrorist neighbors.. we'll hunt them down and root them out all over the world, unless the terror is against israel. then, we'll tell them to give up land and keep taking it and taking it and taking it until our goals are complete in the middle east.. how anyone can take the bush doctrine seriously is beyond me..

but here we are - facing a world with a terrorist led PA.. a group sworn to the destruction of israel as a state - and yet, will be at the negotiating table trying to convince us otherwise (just wait and see) the world will embrace these terrorists turned politicians, just like they embraced the father of terrorism himself, yasser arafag. i mean arafat. (he didn't REALLY die of AIDS, we're told)

let's remember yasser's favorite motto: "We shall hold talks as though there is no terror and wage terror as though there are no talks. "

look for more of the same.

this does, however, possibly shake up the kadima party in israel. the israeli public may not be as anxious for 'peace' with people who outwardly call for their destruction.. so this may bring the likud party back in to power.. which would be interesting indeed. that being said, anything the israeli government wants to do has to be ok'd by washington.. and washington doesn't seem to have the appetite to do what is best for israel.

so, sit back and watch it all unfold.. remember this picture:

















it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood..

and iran.. iran so far away..

2006 is stinkin' busy in the working world.. i haven't had a lot of time to sit around and blog.. been running around working to and fro.. often thinking that i'm burning up the prime years of my life working hard to accomplish little for people who seem to care even less.. but i digress..

we care a lot.

speaking of caring.. it's interesting that the 3 blogs i've got this year all have to do with iran.. last year it was the tsunami taking the headlines.. this year, it's iran.. we've got some serious trouble brewing over in that part of the world and it looks like the posturing is being taken to an even higher level. israel is sabre rattling.. france is now saying they will nuke anyone who launches a terrorist attack against them. (that will be interesting since the terrorist attacks coming their way will be from within - but maybe france nuking themselves is poetic justice) the united states is saying that the time for talking has passed.. the russians and chinese are strangely quiet on the topic.. russians wanna help iran enrich uranium in russia.. the chinese want iran's energy resources for it's soon to be epic energy crisis.. europe has taken the lead on this one.. and as with anything that europe takes the lead on, it has turned in to a disaster.

while the aclu and friends decry the united states as a theocracy on the rise, they ignore a theocracy in practice in ancient persia. they ignore a man who has called for israel to be wiped off the map.. they ignore a man with such messianic visions that he has said that his government's purpose is to facilitate the arrival of the 12th prophet, or mahdi. they ignore a man who apparently is planning a nuclear weapon test before march, all the while claiming the program to be peaceful..

iran is going to be a serious problem.. and a problem for some time. messianic visions and atomic weapons don't make a good match. i anticipate israel will take unilateral action against iran sooner than later. i anticipate an attempted terrorist attack on us soil related to this.. i don't think it is just a coincidence that the timing of bin laden's message and iran's threats are similar.. i don't think the growing relationship among iran, syria and russia is accidental either..

it will be very interesting to see how this all unfolds.. as the people within the united states bicker and fight over NSA spying, judicial candidates and abramoff scandals, the rest of the world gets just a little more dangerous..

the price of unintended consequences..

the united states, already deeply involved in the reconstruction of 2 islamic states, deferred the iran issue to the europeans for resolution. given the european history in dealing with potential (and current) threats, this move may have damning consequences felt world wide.

i'm a firm believer that when you are a leader, you cannot take time off from being a leader. even when you feel taxed and stretched, people look to leaders for leadership.. there are no off days.

one of george bush's apparent miscalculations was to allow the iranian issue to fester under the watchful eye of the europeans. while the united states took time to shore up efforts in iraq and afghanistan, the iranians put more moves on the euro's than barry sanders on sunday.

the iranians are following the north korean playbook to a tee. it appears as if they have had discussions, not only on arms, but on strategy as well. everyone knows that the iranian missile program is based on the north korean one.. now, their strategy in dealing with the world community is a copy as well.. a copy with one major twist.

the new iranian president has an apolcalyptic view of his nation's role in the return of the 12th prophet, or mahdi. he has taken a more aggressive stance - threatening israel, threatening the global oil markets and his neighbors.

israel cannot stand for a nuclear iran.. it would not surprise me at all to see a strike against iran in the next couple of months. iran may make the assumption that with the sharon stroke, israel may not be in a position to make such a strike, but i think that line of thinking is folly. israel, most assuredly has been training and planning such a strike for years. israel, more than any country on earth, knows what to take from the empty words and demands on the euro's.

the only country on earth that can lead right now is the united states, but will that happen ?? will israel have to act alone and withstand the global outcry and condemnation ? will israel utilize nuclear weapons of their own to neutralize the iranian threat ??

none of these options seem palatable, but that's what happens when the one country that is capable of leading decides to defer to those who cannot.

may you live in interesting times..

well, i'm back from blogging vacation.. since i last logged on i've been to new york, connecticut, new jersey, florida, belize and guatemala.. we've seen Christmas come and go and a new year start.. so, i guess here, today, on 1/10, it's time to get back on the blog.

2005 was a very interesting year.. we've seen the biggest threat to american sovereignty appear internally. we've watched once great men become small shadows of their former selves (congressman murtha). we've seen one group of people set on destroying another set of people in the united states. we've seen corruption on both sides of the aisle. we've seen natural disasters on an unprecedented scale. but through all of this we've seen democracy wake in the middle east. we've seen a constitution and 3 votes in iraq. we've seen people, at the risk of their lives, going to vote so to have a say in their future government. we've seen an outpouring of support from great americans to help their own through 2 devastating hurricanes. we've seen the united states provided assistance to india and pakistan through their devastating earthquake. we've seen the united states take the lead in assistance post tsunami. and we've seen one of the most remarkable economic recoveries in history. after 9/11, an inherited recession, 4 hurricanes in florida, katrina, rita, tornadoes, wildfires and the like, the us economy is booming. home ownership is at an all time high.

so here we are in 2006. we start the year with ariel sharon incapacitated with a stroke. we again watch as all of the world focuses in on the middle east, and Jerusalem in particular. iran's leader is saying that the holocaust did not happen.. he's suggesting Israel be moved to europe.. he's calling for the destruction of the Jewish state. we see a building relationship between russia and iran.. we all stand by and watch as advanced russian arms pour in to the islamic state. then we're reminded of the the little diddy about gog & magog.. and an alliance between russia and persia and their ultimate involvement against Israel.

the bush administration appears to be forcing the new Israeli leaders to accept hamas as a partner in the 'roadmap to peace.' once again, the bush administration turns a blind eye to history and God's word. for the non-religious, that doesn't mean much, but for professing Christians, esp one who is leading the most powerful nation on earth, it should mean everything. Genesis 12:3 couldn't be more clear.. "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. All of the families of the earth will be blessed." those words are very clear and it relates to the descendants of Abraham - the Jews. each time the united states pushes Israel's security to the brink.. forcing them to give up land and deal with their enemies, the bush administration is inviting trouble for the united states. rice, bush and company, as professing Christians should understand this.. unfortunately, it appears they do not.

so here we are in 2006.. a new year, with much promise and much to be thankful for. not only that, there is so much to look forward to. depending on your point of view it's either exciting or unsettling, but regardless, we do live in interesting times.

further evidence of global warming..

no need for winter coats anymore.. confirmed.

iran - months away from a nuke..

inaction, delay and endless debating have brought us a treat for the new year..

from the jerusalem post:

IAEA chairman Muhammad ElBaradei on Monday confirmed Israel's assessment that Iran is only a few months away from creating an atomic bomb.

If Teheran indeed resumed its uranium enrichment in other plants, as threatened, it will take it only "a few months" to produce a nuclear bomb, El-Baradei told The Independent.

On the other hand, he warned, any attempt to resolve the crisis by non-diplomatic means would "open a Pandora's box. There would be efforts to isolate Iran; Iran would retaliate; and at the end of the day you have to go back to the negotiating table to find the solution."

further evidence that the united nations is the most worthless time waste in the history of the world

Persian Mahdi

for those who are not familiar with the term 'mahdi' in islam, it is a reference to the end times leader that will overcome the oppressors of islam. this is a very big deal for muslims around the world. the appearance of the mahdi is the signal that the day of judgement is fast approaching.

an explanation

"The Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAW) has prophesied about several events that will occur just before the advent of the day of judgment. Among these, Rasulullah(SAW) has foretold the advent of one of his descendants, Al Mahdi (the guided one), which will materialize when the believers are severely oppressed in every corner of the world. He will fight the oppressors, unite the Muslims, bring peace and justice to the world, rule over the Arabs, and lead a prayer in Mekkah at which Isa(pbuh) (Jesus) will be present."
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now, it appears as if the new iranian president is beginning to think of himself in this light.. which could be very dangerous indeed.

Iran: President Says Light Surrounded Him During UN Speech
By Golnaz Esfandiari

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad says that when he delivered his speech at the UN General Assembly in September, he felt there was a light around him and that the attention of the world leaders in the audience was unblinkingly focused upon him. The claim has caused a stir in Iran, as a transcript and video recording of Ahmadinejad's comments have been published on an Iranian website, baztab.com. There are also reports that a CD showing Ahmadinejad making the comments also has been widely distributed in Iran. Is the Iranian president claiming to be divinely inspired?

Prague, 29 November 2005 (RFE/RL) -- According the report by baztab.com, President Ahmadinejad made the comments in a meeting with one of Iran's leading clerics, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli.

Ahmadinejad said that someone present at the UN told him that a light surrounded him while he was delivering his speech to the General Assembly. The Iranian president added that he also sensed it.

"He said when you began with the words 'in the name of God,' I saw that you became surrounded by a light until the end [of the speech]," Ahmadinejad appears to say in the video. "I felt it myself, too. I felt that all of a sudden the atmosphere changed there, and for 27-28 minutes all the leaders did not blink."

Ahmadinejad adds that he is not exaggerating.

"I am not exaggerating when I say they did not blink; it's not an exaggeration, because I was looking," he says. "They were astonished as if a hand held them there and made them sit. It had opened their eyes and ears for the message of the Islamic Republic."

Baztab.com reported that during the meeting, Ayatollah Amoli said that "carrying out promises and restraining from fooling people" is the most important duty, presumably of officials . However, it is unclear whether that comment is made in reaction to the claim made by Ahmadinejad.

Critics And Skeptics

Iranian legislator Akbar Alami has questioned Ahmadinejad's apparent claims, saying that even Islam's holiest figures have never made such claims.

Alami told ILNA news agency that it is hard to imagine that someone who is delivering a speech can at the same time focus his attention on the eyelashes of all the people sitting at a distance from him and categorically tell a leading Qom cleric that they did not blink.

Alami said he hopes the film of Ahmadinejad’s comments has not been distributed by people close to the president to make criticizing him "taboo among ordinary people."

However, FardaNews.com, a conservative website, reported that the meeting between Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Javadi Amoli was private. [Editor's note: FardaNews.com has no relation to RFE/RL's Radio Farda.] The website accused unspecified Ahmadinejad opponents of distributing the CD of the meeting to insult him.

Hossein Bastani, an Iranian journalist based in France, told RFE/RL that Ahmadinejad's comments can be interpreted in two ways.

"One analysis is that this government believes that it came to power with the votes of the so-called lowest class of the Iranian society and these are classes that believe more in such supernatural tales," Bastani said. "Therefore, this government tries, by propagating such rumors, to gain a dogmatic, charismatic, and holy status among those whom they think support them. The second view is that despite the fact that they are trying to fool people, maybe they also believe in these things that are being repeatedly published about them and said by them. This is more dangerous.”

Growing Trend

Since the presidential elections in Iran, many bizarre stories and rumors have circulated about Ahmadinejad. Many of them are related to his devotion to the 12th Imam, also known as Imam Mahdi, who according to Muslims has disappeared and will return at the end of time to lead an era of Islamic justice.
During his September speech at the UN, Ahmadinejad called for the reappearance of the 12th Imam.

In mid-November, during a speech to Friday prayers leaders from across Iran, Ahmadinejad said that the main mission of the revolution is to pave the way for the reappearance of the 12th Imam.

In recent weeks, the president's aides have denied a rumor that he ordered his cabinet to write a pact of loyalty with the 12th Imam and throw it down a well near the holy city of Qom, where some believe the Imam is hiding.

Ahmadinejad's supporters said such rumors are being circulated about the president by opponents in efforts to defame him.

Tacit Approval?

But journalist Bastani said that many of the reported stories are based on comments made by Ahmadinejad and his cabinet members.

"Inside Iran, no one in a news [organization] takes the risk of publishing incorrect information about the president, who also controls the Information Ministry, [so] spreading lies about him has serious consequences," Bastani said. "In recent weeks and months, there has been much news similar to the meeting between Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Amoli. These [reports] include the allocation in at least two cases of heavy budgets for the Jamkaran mosque [at the well where some believe that Imam Mahdi is hiding] or comments by the president that have been quoted by the Iranian media in which he had said in an official meeting that the Hidden Imam will appear in two years."

There has been no reaction from President Ahmadinejad to the distribution and publication of his claim that a light surrounded him while he was addressing world leaders at the UN.

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, an adviser to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, has warned against the misuse of religious sanctities and written on his website that it is natural that, at a time when the world is expecting a plan to end the deadlock over Iran's nuclear issue, attention is paid to the comments by the country's president.

Ahmadinejad has been criticized inside the country for his seeming lack of tact and his confrontational style on the international stage. His comments about his mystical experience at the UN could well lead to further criticism.

technology is your friend..

you've come a long way, baby

a democratic perspective on the war in iraq

talk about a man without a party.. joe lieberman is talking about things that would put him in the category of zel miller. after recently visiting iraq, joe lieberman offered his assessment on the situation..

from newsmax.com

Fresh from his fourth trip to Iraq in the past 17 months, Sen. Joe Lieberman insists the U.S. must stay in the embattled nation and not abandon "27 million Iraqis to 10,000 terrorists."

"The Iraqi people are in reach of a watershed transformation from the primitive, killing tyranny of Saddam to modern, self-governing, self-securing nationhood – unless the great American military that has given them and us this unexpected opportunity is prematurely withdrawn," the Connecticut Democrat writes in an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal.

Pointing to economic and political progress he witnessed while in Iraq, Lieberman said:
"People are working their way toward a functioning society and economy in the midst of a very brutal, inhumane, sustained terrorist war against the civilian population and the Iraqi and American military there to protect it.

"It is a war between 27 million and 10,000; 27 million Iraqis who want to live lives of freedom, opportunity and prosperity and roughly 10,000 terrorists who are either Saddam revanchists, Iraqi Islamic extremists or al-Qaida foreign fighters who know their wretched causes will be set back if Iraq becomes free and modern ...

"We are fighting on the side of the 27 million because the outcome of this war is critically important to the security and freedom of America. If the terrorists win, they will be emboldened to strike us directly again and to further undermine the growing stability and progress in the Middle East."

Lieberman is encouraged by the numbers of Iraqis who have gone to the polls despite the threat of violence, by Sunni participation in the electoral process and by the thriving independent media in Iraq.

"None of these remarkable changes would have happened without the coalition forces led by the U.S.," Lieberman writes.
"And, I am convinced, almost all of the progress in Iraq and throughout the Middle East will be lost if those forces are withdrawn faster than the Iraqi military is capable of securing the country.

"I am disappointed by Democrats who are more focused on how President Bush took America into the war in Iraq almost three years ago, and by Republicans who are more worried about whether the war will bring them down in next November's elections, than they are concerned about how we continue the progress in Iraq in the months and years ahead.

"What a colossal mistake it would be for America's bipartisan political leadership to choose this moment in history to lose its will and, in the famous phrase, to seize defeat from the jaws of the coming victory."