IRANIAN LEADER: End of the world, film at 11

Not to be overly melodramatic, let's say it this way: Anyone who knows something about eschatology—End Times theology—should be concerned about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That's the wild-eyed Iranian leader who has been making some alarming statements, such as his calls for the destruction of Israel—and "soon," in his latest such pronouncement.

Most disturbing of all, however, have been statements indicating his belief in the need to provoke the final "clash of civilizations" to prepare the way for the return of the 12th Imam, a messianic Islamic figure also called the Mahdi, whose appearance is expected in the last days to finally vanquish all infidels (non-Muslims).

But first, there's an unfortunate lot of wrong-headedness going around right now about Iran that seriously understates the threat. Isolationist Pat Buchanan, for example, bloviated last week about just ignoring Iran, as any adult would disregard a punk 9-year-old challenging us to step outside. Pay no attention to all that saber rattling, says the Pat. It's strictly for internal consumption and building team spirit. Then yesterday both Newt Gingrich (on Fox) and Michael Ledeen (on Hugh Hewitt), an Iran expert at the American Enterprise Institute, called for the United States to begin seriously aiding the Iranian opposition.

Both of these views, frankly, are dangerous. We are not going to be able to ignore the Iranian threat. And we're kidding ourselves if we think we have the luxury of time to foment an insurrection. We're way past that point, guys.

Amir Taheri, an Iranian ex-patriate in Europe and former editor of Iran's largest daily newspaper, tells us why armed conflict is all but inevitable:

"In Ahmadinejad’s analysis, the rising Islamic 'superpower' has decisive advantages over the infidel. Islam has four times as many young men of fighting age as the West, with its ageing populations. Hundreds of millions of Muslim 'ghazis' (holy raiders) are keen to become martyrs while the infidel youths, loving life and fearing death, hate to fight. Islam also has four-fifths of the world’s oil reserves, and so controls the lifeblood of the infidel. . . .Iran's current strategy, therefore, is to wait Bush out. And that [Bush's final two lame-duck years], by 'divine coincidence,' corresponds to the time Iran needs to develop its nuclear arsenal, thus matching the only advantage the infidel enjoys."

Note how they're counting on American political loggerheads. We strongly recommend reading Taheri's entire analysis at the on-line London Telegraph.

Next then, we'll take a little look at that Antichrist thing.