I don't happen to believe in that three—times—222 number, or in the inevitable Armageddon that will pit the forces of Satan against God in a final apocalyptic battle between Good and Evil. But if anybody is taking nominations, I would certain think Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fits the bill for today's anti—Christ.

I mean here's a guy who really does fervently believe that his role in the near future is to rain death on the infidels ——— that's you and me ——— to bring about the return of the Twelfth Imam, the last grandson of Mohammed, who disappeared a millenium ago. In order to create Paradise on earth, Mr. Mahmoud has long promised Paradise in Heaven to his followers, if only they would martyr themselves for his cause.

When he was "elected" he told the world that

""Thanks to the blood of the martyrs, a new Islamic revolution has arisen and the Islamic revolution of 1384 [the current Iranian year] will, if God wills, cut off the roots of injustice in the world." He said, "The wave of the Islamic revolution will soon reach the entire world."

In other words, Mr. Mahmoud represents an aggressive imperialist faith that really wants to dominate the world. It's bow down to Allah or off with your head. If you happen to be a Sunni Muslim, you're as bad as an Christian, Jew or Buddhist. You're just an infidel with a target painted on your anatomy.

That means the boss of Tehran is a sworn enemy of every single neighbor, including Saudi Arabia, just a hop across the Gulf. A third to a half of the world's oil supply will soon be within his reach. And now Mahmoud and his  guru Ayatollah Yazdi are within a year or two of nukes, just the right toy for your apocalyptic madman.

Not bad for an anti—Christ figure.

As Charles Krauthammer recently wrote in the Washington Post:

Everyone knows where Iran's nuclear weapons will be aimed. Everyone knows they will be put on Shahab rockets, which have been modified so that they can reach Israel. And everyone knows that if the button is ever pushed, it will be the end of Israel.

But it gets worse. The president of a country about to go nuclear is a confirmed believer in the coming apocalypse. Like Judaism and Christianity, Shiite Islam has its own version of the messianic return —— the reappearance of the Twelfth Imam. The more devout believers in Iran pray at the Jamkaran mosque, which houses a well from which, some believe, he will emerge.

When Ahmadinejad unexpectedly won the presidential elections, he immediately gave $17 million of government funds to the shrine. Last month Ahmadinejad said publicly that the main mission of the Islamic Revolution is to pave the way for the reappearance of the Twelfth Imam.

And as in some versions of fundamentalist Christianity, the second coming will be accompanied by the usual trials and tribulations, death and destruction. Iranian journalist Hossein Bastani reported Ahmadinejad saying in official meetings that the hidden imam will reappear in two years.

So a Holocaust—denying, virulently anti—Semitic, aspiring genocidist, on the verge of acquiring weapons of the apocalypse, believes that the end is not only near but nearer than the next American presidential election. ... This kind of man would have, to put it gently, less inhibition about starting Armageddon than a normal person. Indeed, with millennial bliss pending, he would have positive incentive to, as they say in Jewish eschatology, hasten the end.

So this time, as 6—6—6 passes its mathematically preordained moment, we are facing a mythic moment in anybody's book. Since most of the world is desperately trying to deny the plain evidence of our eyes, it's up to Uncle Sam and a few others, not least Israel, to do something.

Even the French and Germans now understand they are soon to be within range. Europe's long vacation from reality, that infantile sucking off Uncle Sam for national security, is now over. Since Europeans habitually sneer at the idea of anti—missile defense, they will soon be naked before their enemies.

Mahmoud has specialized all his life in terrorist attacks abroad — the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1981 is only one example of Tehran's long terrorist reach far beyond its borders. Tehran has bombed a Jewish community center in Argentina, killing dozens of people. It has assassinated Iranian opposition figures in Switzerland. Iran has the most powerful international terrorist organization, Hezbollah, at its beck and call, infilitrating wherever Shi'ite Muslims live around the world. Mahmoud's brand of Islam recognizes no borders to its imperial ambitions.

So he's a dangerous customer all around. Some innocents want to know why Iran shouldn't  have its own nuclear bombs ——— isn't it just basically fair? Other countries have them. Tehran only want to "join the Nuclear Club." "It's all about self—respect." A number of our liberal Deep Thinkers belong to this Dumb and Dumber school of international relations.

The answer, class, is: because he would use them! Unlike any nuclear country today.

Got that? There will be a test, sooner or later.

James Lewis   6 6 06