Comment: Being familiar with the writings of Mr. Lewis I am not inclined to dismiss out of hand his comments below as the rantings of an old man:
Commentary BERNARD LEWIS _The Wall Street Journal_ August 8, 2006
[ . . . ] In Islam, as in Judaism and Christianity, there are certain beliefs concerning the cosmic struggle at the end of time -- Gog and Magog, anti-Christ, Armageddon, and for Shiite Muslims, the long awaited return of the Hidden Imam, ending in the final victory of the forces of good over evil, however these may be defined. Mr. Ahmadinejad and his followers clearly believe that this time is now, and that the terminal struggle has already begun and is indeed well advanced. It may even have a date, indicated by several references by the Iranian president to giving his final answer to the U.S. about nuclear development by Aug. 22. This was at first reported as "by the end of August," but Mr. Ahmadinejad's statement was more precise.
What is the significance of Aug. 22? This year, Aug. 22 corresponds, in the Islamic calendar, to the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year 1427. This, by tradition, is the night when many Muslims commemorate the night flight of the prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, first to "the farthest mosque," usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and back (c.f., Koran XVII.1). This might well be deemed an appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far from certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possibility in mind.
A passage from the Ayatollah Khomeini, quoted in an 11th-grade Iranian schoolbook, is revealing. "I am decisively announcing to the whole world that if the world-devourers [i.e., the infidel powers] wish to stand against our religion, we will stand against their whole world and will not cease until the annihilation of all them. Either we all become free, or we will go to the greater freedom which is martyrdom. Either we shake one another's hands in joy at the victory of Islam in the world, or all of us will turn to eternal life and martyrdom. In both cases, victory and success are ours."
In this context, mutual assured destruction, the deterrent that worked so well during the Cold War, would have no meaning. At the end of time, there will be general destruction anyway. What will matter will be the final destination of the dead -- hell for the infidels, and heaven for the believers. For people with this mindset, MAD is not a constraint; it is an inducement.
How then can one confront such an enemy, with such a view of life and death? Some immediate precautions are obviously possible and necessary. In the long term, it would seem that the best, perhaps the only hope is to appeal to those Muslims, Iranians, Arabs and others who do not share these apocalyptic perceptions and aspirations, and feel as much threatened, indeed even more threatened, than we are. There must be many such, probably even a majority in the lands of Islam. Now is the time for them to save their countries, their societies and their religion from the madness of MAD.
Mr. Lewis, professor emeritus at Princeton, is the author, most recently, of "From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting the Middle East" (Oxford University Press, 2004).
The Arabs are the ones spreading this disease. The Wahab's are the most dangerous sect in all of Islam. They need to be exposed and brought out in the open and held accountable for their hatred.
bobgnome wrote: > Comment: Being familiar with the writings of Mr. > Lewis I am not inclined to dismiss out of hand his > comments below as the rantings of an old man:
> Commentary > BERNARD LEWIS > _The Wall Street Journal_ > August 8, 2006
> [ . . . ] In Islam, as in Judaism and Christianity, there are certain > beliefs concerning the cosmic struggle at the end of time -- Gog and Magog, > anti-Christ, Armageddon, and for Shiite Muslims, the long awaited return of > the Hidden Imam, ending in the final victory of the forces of good over > evil, however these may be defined. Mr. Ahmadinejad and his followers > clearly believe that this time is now, and that the terminal struggle has > already begun and is indeed well advanced. It may even have a date, > indicated by several references by the Iranian president to giving his final > answer to the U.S. about nuclear development by Aug. 22. This was at first > reported as "by the end of August," but Mr. Ahmadinejad's statement was more > precise.
> What is the significance of Aug. 22? This year, Aug. 22 corresponds, in the > Islamic calendar, to the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year 1427. > This, by tradition, is the night when many Muslims commemorate the night > flight of the prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, first to "the > farthest mosque," usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and > back (c.f., Koran XVII.1). This might well be deemed an appropriate date for > the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far > from certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events > precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possibility in mind.
> A passage from the Ayatollah Khomeini, quoted in an 11th-grade Iranian > schoolbook, is revealing. "I am decisively announcing to the whole world > that if the world-devourers [i.e., the infidel powers] wish to stand against > our religion, we will stand against their whole world and will not cease > until the annihilation of all them. Either we all become free, or we will go > to the greater freedom which is martyrdom. Either we shake one another's > hands in joy at the victory of Islam in the world, or all of us will turn to > eternal life and martyrdom. In both cases, victory and success are ours."
> In this context, mutual assured destruction, the deterrent that worked so > well during the Cold War, would have no meaning. At the end of time, there > will be general destruction anyway. What will matter will be the final > destination of the dead -- hell for the infidels, and heaven for the > believers. For people with this mindset, MAD is not a constraint; it is an > inducement.
> How then can one confront such an enemy, with such a view of life and death? > Some immediate precautions are obviously possible and necessary. In the long > term, it would seem that the best, perhaps the only hope is to appeal to > those Muslims, Iranians, Arabs and others who do not share these apocalyptic > perceptions and aspirations, and feel as much threatened, indeed even more > threatened, than we are. There must be many such, probably even a majority > in the lands of Islam. Now is the time for them to save their countries, > their societies and their religion from the madness of MAD.
> Mr. Lewis, professor emeritus at Princeton, is the author, most recently, of > "From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting the Middle East" (Oxford University > Press, 2004).
The Arabs are the ones spreading this disease. The Wahab's are the most dangerous sect in all of Islam. They need to be exposed and brought out in the open and held accountable for their hatred.
bobgnome wrote: > Comment: Being familiar with the writings of Mr. > Lewis I am not inclined to dismiss out of hand his > comments below as the rantings of an old man:
> Commentary > BERNARD LEWIS > _The Wall Street Journal_ > August 8, 2006
> [ . . . ] In Islam, as in Judaism and Christianity, there are certain > beliefs concerning the cosmic struggle at the end of time -- Gog and Magog, > anti-Christ, Armageddon, and for Shiite Muslims, the long awaited return of > the Hidden Imam, ending in the final victory of the forces of good over > evil, however these may be defined. Mr. Ahmadinejad and his followers > clearly believe that this time is now, and that the terminal struggle has > already begun and is indeed well advanced. It may even have a date, > indicated by several references by the Iranian president to giving his final > answer to the U.S. about nuclear development by Aug. 22. This was at first > reported as "by the end of August," but Mr. Ahmadinejad's statement was more > precise.
> What is the significance of Aug. 22? This year, Aug. 22 corresponds, in the > Islamic calendar, to the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year 1427. > This, by tradition, is the night when many Muslims commemorate the night > flight of the prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, first to "the > farthest mosque," usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and > back (c.f., Koran XVII.1). This might well be deemed an appropriate date for > the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far > from certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events > precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possibility in mind.
> A passage from the Ayatollah Khomeini, quoted in an 11th-grade Iranian > schoolbook, is revealing. "I am decisively announcing to the whole world > that if the world-devourers [i.e., the infidel powers] wish to stand against > our religion, we will stand against their whole world and will not cease > until the annihilation of all them. Either we all become free, or we will go > to the greater freedom which is martyrdom. Either we shake one another's > hands in joy at the victory of Islam in the world, or all of us will turn to > eternal life and martyrdom. In both cases, victory and success are ours."
> In this context, mutual assured destruction, the deterrent that worked so > well during the Cold War, would have no meaning. At the end of time, there > will be general destruction anyway. What will matter will be the final > destination of the dead -- hell for the infidels, and heaven for the > believers. For people with this mindset, MAD is not a constraint; it is an > inducement.
> How then can one confront such an enemy, with such a view of life and death? > Some immediate precautions are obviously possible and necessary. In the long > term, it would seem that the best, perhaps the only hope is to appeal to > those Muslims, Iranians, Arabs and others who do not share these apocalyptic > perceptions and aspirations, and feel as much threatened, indeed even more > threatened, than we are. There must be many such, probably even a majority > in the lands of Islam. Now is the time for them to save their countries, > their societies and their religion from the madness of MAD.
> Mr. Lewis, professor emeritus at Princeton, is the author, most recently, of > "From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting the Middle East" (Oxford University > Press, 2004).
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