Bernard Lewis: Iran in apocalyptic mood

Ynet News ^ | 01.29.07, 22:01 | Yaakov Lappin

[Squidpup]

"Ahmadinejad and his group clearly believe, and I don't doubt the sincerity of their belief, that we are now entering an apocalyptic age, which will result in the triumph of their messianic figure," Lewis said, referring to the twelfth Imam, Mahdi.

"Muslims, like Jews, believe that there are things you can do to hasten the messiah. M.A.D doesn't work with these people."

[clamper1797]

M.A.D. doesn't work with these people

That's because they are MAD ... and like any mad animal you don't try to negotiate ... you just put it out of it's misery

[Spok]

"M.A.D doesn't work with these people."

Then our survival depends on our willingness to strike preemptively.

[quadrant]

If MAD doesn't work, then neither will reason.

[Fitzcarraldo]

They're just being realistic!

[brooklyn dave]

We Christians believe that Jesus is going to come too---but we don't know the day nor the hour and there isn't anything we can do to make it come sooner or stall it. Actually there are some conservative Catholics that believe that the Tribulation has been stalled through fasting and prayer.

[GSlob]

200% correct. Should have been done in '79.

[RightWhale]

So, raise the curtain on these puppies.

[353FMG]

You mean to tell me that I cannot bend God's will? I once threatened Him to get me a Lamborghini. I guess that I should be more humble and request a used Ferrari. (I will not accept any other color but red)

[Redbob]

"M.A.D doesn't work with these people."

How about plain ol' destruction?

I'll bet destruction works with these people, and I think it's high time we gave it a try.

[txhurl]

Their pruning regimen is overdue.

[BuffaloJack]

If Iran wants to believe that they are headed towards the Apocalypse that is fine as long as they don't drag anyone by themselves into their pit with them.

[Dajjal]

75% kudos to Dr. Lewis for admitting that Ahmadinejad "and his group" are millennialists, and that MAD will not work with them. But 25% grrr for him and the other "experts" who do not recognize that this "group" is millions and millions of Muslims -- from Sunni, Shi'ite and the smaller sects -- who believe these are the End Times, and that this is a major motivation in the current jihad. Also for not explaining that the Mahdi's predestined purpose is to kill the Dajjal, and that the imams are identifying us as the Dajjal.