August 22, Iran's date for world armageddon? UPDATED

Should we be concerned about Iran, Islam's 12th Imam, and August 22? Bloggers have been reporting on this for some time now, today the Wall Street Journal has an op-ed on the subject. I have wondered for some time if our government pays any attention to this subject. Apparently they do.

Last evening, one of our friends in the State Department happened to call. During our chat, I asked him, from the perspective of someone working amid diplomatic circles for the last 20+ years, what the biggest story of the year was. Biggest, as in frightening long-term troubles for us. He responded that it was the 18 page letter Ahmadinejad sent to President Bush. He then carefully explained why. That 18 page letter was maybe a one day story at best in the MSM. The reason why the news media thought that was either because they have no idea what news really is or because that letter made George Bush look good, really good. -- Mrs. P at Patum Peperium

Infidel Bloggers Alliance is all over the subject here:

"Wall Street Journal Op-Ed Says Ahmadinejad May Have "Cataclysmic Events" In Store For August 22nd" from Infidel Bloggers Alliance, who says:

Of course, we've been on this for weeks here at Infidel Bloggers Alliance. But, when the Wall Street Journal starts saying the same thing, even I prick up my ears:

In a WALL STREET JOURNAL op-ed Tuesday, Princeton's Bernard Lewis writes: "There is a radical difference between the Islamic Republic of Iran and other governments with nuclear weapons. This difference is expressed in what can only be described as the apocalyptic worldview of Iran's present rulers."

"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."

President Mahmoud 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 US about nuclear development by Aug. 22," which this year corresponds "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."

Jihad Watch has another excerpt from the same editorial:

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."

GM's Corner talks about "The Utter Insanity Of The Islamo-Fascists"

Yep, utter insanity. The forces of Iran, Syria and Hezbollah have stated that they will attack and destroy Israel and the United States. Gents, before you engage in that desire for wanton killing and bloodshed, please be aware of the consequences of that action: (you will have to go look at his consequences)

If August 22nd turns out to be doomsday, I know which side CAIR will be on, and it won't be the USA. Ahmadinejad is not a wahhabist, although that belief is spreading across the globe today.

Chad at In the Bullpen has been all over this from the beginning. "Ahmadinejad Plans to Light up Jerusalem Sky" is just one of his detailed articles.

Say No to P.C.B.S. says:

I don't buy into the fear, but I do buy into the theory that we are indeed in the midst of an unasked for holy war. It will not stop this time,the toys are bigger and badder. It's just not looking good.Maybe being a bit "scared" is a good thing.

Islamic Evil also reports on the subject.

Linked with Publius Rendezvous, "Armadeggon? Maybe."

UPDATE: PLEASE SEE UPDATED POST, "August 22, 2006 Allah will know his own (or is it actually the night of August 21?) found here

Comments

[marianne]

Iran is serious about what they believe, whether it is fantasy or not. They will act on their beliefs, so we should be prepared for a war. Ahmadinejad lies in a dream world, waiting for his savior. What is required is a war, that the savior can "solve." So Ahmadinejad needs to start a war, so his savior can come. He is strongly motivated. So say our prayers, and get ready to fight back.

[marianne]

Iran is serious about what they believe, whether it is fantasy or not. They will act on their beliefs, so we should be prepared for a war. Ahmadinejad lies in a dream world, waiting for his savior. What is required is a war, that the savior can "solve." So Ahmadinejad needs to start a war, so his savior can come. He is strongly motivated. So say our prayers, and get ready to fight back.

[featheredserpent]

the time is now ,love and the light of all things will be come one,and change will bring justice truth love,understanding of all things,hang on not long to go have faith,in truth,for the good will be.featheredserpent

[Team Fortress 2]

well, it's pretty much the end of the world i guess.

[Weight Healthy]

If anything happens it won't be Iran!!Just because our Government says something does not make it true!!

[Adam Bell]

Well, good thing we didn't listen to this isn't it? An American Pre-Emptive assault due to this....well...silly theory would have led to a war that would have been pointless. For those of you cowering in your bunkers waiting for Jesus or whatever, Iran said it was willing to be more cooperative with the UN.

Iran wants to be taken seriously as a world player, and contrary to what you all seem to think, Iran is not a nation of maniacs. Ahmedinejad is a very smart man, whether you all want to admit it or not. He may come off as crazy, but that is how he gets his people fired up. They may not like the USA, but why does hatred for the USA and Israel instantly make a nation insane?

And also, would you gits stop quoting the bible already! The bible also says that the anti-christ and the end of days will come like a theif in the night, meaning we won't see it coming, no one, not you, not me, no one. Unless you're bleeding prophets, which you obviously ain't, you won't see it coming until it's happened. Quit acting enlightened. A true christian wouldn't advocate war on another nation, only the forces of evil. Ahmedinejad is definately not the anti-christ, so settle down.

[Marston]

No, this is some serious bullshit. Armageddon predictions are always bullshit.

[Mke]

Please stop this silly stuff, you're scaring my friend, Scott Heller.....

[PatricksEcho]

Wolf! Wolf! Sure... but we are overdue, and we're going to wake up one morning and it will happen again, but much worse. You won't watch it on TV, you will live it. Nothing we can do but prepare and convince others who will listen to do the same. Those who laugh at this advice? Well, we'll see who's right eventually, won't we?

[Vahid]

hi there,
I'm an Iranian and since i'm much better familiar with my own culture I assure you that nothing significance will happen. The real Islam forbiddens such violences.

[Debbie]

Yes, Paul, we still have free will, given to us by God Himself. We can choose to believe whatever we want. We can choose! Isn't it wonderful!

[paul]

According to most around the globe, an imminent peak and subsequent terminal decline in oil production may lead to a global economic
collapse with total war precluding any kind of internationalist approach to either global warming, overpopulation, energy alternatives
or maintaining even the semblance of democratic order, resulting in a kind of globalized capitalist totalitarian feudalism, gigantic population
culls through war, famine and pestilence accompanied by accelerating biosphere destruction with the end result that within about 80-100 years or so
a mass planetary extinction event will wipe out, say, 90% or more of all life on earth including us - unless we preempt nature through
either adapting to the changes being forced on us or we commit the ultimate sui-genocide and destroy ourselves in a nuclear apocalypse.

So...do we have free will or not? (Please, please exercise some enlightned thoughts and say yes, because if you say no, it's just dumb suicide - and that's a sin).

[evelyn]

well, it's pretty much the end of the world i guess.

[Debbie]

Everyone, please see the update found here:

August 22, 2006 Allah will know his own (or is it actually the night of August 21?)

http://righttruth.typepad.com/right_truth/2006/08/allah_will_know.html

[dalton]

I believe that if they make some kind of attack or try to make some kind of attack our defense system has stepped it up, since 9/11, and would be able to prevent it in some way. All of this nonsense about what people are speculating is rediculous. I have never heard another country in this world have so many different stories about one thing. Maybe if the U.S. would just shut up and mind our own F&**king business we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place.

[George Collins]

Babylon is not in Israel; it is now called Iraq.
Also, a dollar wins you ten that the suspects in the liquid bomb case now being questioned in Britain will all be released without charge.

[Eugenia]

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

[Josh Benbrook]

I think This leads to true armageddon. If you look through Revalation, It sais in the end Babylon (Which is in Isreal) Will Fall And God Will Punish The Guilty, But those Who are faithful to Him, Will go with him in eternity.and It sais Those who are left behind will suffer in the 7 years of tribulation. In other words, "Hell On Earth."
So you decide, Do you wanna Go through Hell on earth? Or do you wanna Repent, From the heart and Be with Peace, Happiness, And God For eternity?

[paul]

This sort of quasi-religious scaremongering always finds a receptive audience in the United States, especially among Christians of the jihadist persuasion. I'm amazed.

The US has openly and repeatedly stated it will aggressively wage "pre-emptive" wars on multiple fronts, and it needs a pretext for attacking Syria and Iran. Why? Because broad public opinion demands it and Washington knows it.

If you deny a US will attack on Syria and Iran will happen, regardless of what created threat stage we're in, take a look at a map. The pipeline route through the Middle East and Afghan oil fields is being prepared, and it has nothing to do with some notion of 'end-times'. It has to do with war - one we're getting ready to wage for capitalistic- imperial reasons. Oil. Our economic 'survival'. Not judging, just reporting.

At 90 years old, Professor Lewis (the central historian for the Bush adminsitration and main purveyor of this current August 22nd obsession) may have completely lost his marbles, but he is still feted by the White House (vice-president Dick Cheney was guest of honour at his birthday party in April), and the Wall Street Journal describes him as "a sage". Sure.

He is credited with coining the phrase "clash of civilisations" back in 1990 and now seems intent on making it a reality.

Nevertheless, Prof Lewis does manage to spot a few drawbacks in his alleged Iranian attempt to obliterate Israel. "An attack that wipes out Israel would almost certainly wipe out the Palestinians too," he writes.

People seem to be assuming here that Iran already has a fully primed nuclear arsenal, which is plainly not the case, despite what many Americans imagine. We are being fed misinformation and it's essential to get outside our own borders for wider views on what's going on.

Even Lewis demolishes his own argument with this caveat: "It is far from certain that Mr Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events precisely for August 22."

I think we should remove psychotic fingers from triggers for a few calm moments. Nobody is safer than we are in the US, except the few on Tierra del Fuego.

[Lori]

OMG WE ARE GOING TO DIE?!!? whats happening!! Why are they gunna do this!!! its not fair!! iam only 14!! AHH pleaseeee let me liveee.

[Bryan Kay]

Ahmedinejad's letter to President Bush was not a threat of liberal and or democratic destruction by Muslim terrorist forces in the immediate future (Aug 22nd). His letter better symbolizes a challenge to Christianity and the manipulation of Christian minds. The growing distaste for President Bush around the world and his questionable moral actions in the eyes of many Christians and Muslims alike, are used in this letter to question Christian actions and the leaders we choose as a whole. We true Christians in America must not fear the end times for we are saved already. From this letter we should be reminded that in the future, the President we choose, will undoubtedly represent us as Americans but furthermore represent us as Christians in the world theater. Did Jesus not turn the other cheek? Lets not loose the war on religious faith and Christian validity for this is the greatest threat this letter poses. And remember desperate men listen to foolishness and there are many desperate men these days.

[Debbie]

You make a very good point, Joseph. Got is still in control. I'm not stressed out about this in the least. I've put my faith in Christ and whatever happens ... happens. I'm prepared.

[Joseph taylor]

OK, seems that everyone is all stresed out....about things that WE can NOT prevent....there are crazies in this worls and evil people......God has a plan for the world and islam is on the loosing side of that plan. Like Jesus says,(THERE WILL BE FULSE PROFETS). AND THERE IS ALOT OF THEM IN ISLAM!...sooo if it is the end be ready!.. and pray

[George Collins]

The liquid bomb threat was to go ahead on Aug 22 ON NIGHT FLIGHTS TO THE USA to commemorate the night flight of Mohammed

[Thor]

I did not find the exact instance to which I referred but did find the discussion that was on Glenn Beck.
http://redskybrothers.com/2006/08/12/press-on-the-august-22-iran-issue/

[Thor]

This was discussed very briefly on CNN the other day. If I find the footage Ill post it and come back with a heads up.

[Mike]

Crazy people have said stuff like this before, and will say stuff like this again. I work for a large defence company in the US, and like many things Iran has said before, this is just as ludicris. Iran does not have nuclear capabilities yet, they do not have the fire or man power to cause as much destruction as they want to. If they must they will resort to terror. However, no expert,nay, credible experts, would say anything to put such silly thoughts into peoples heads. That is why its not on major news stations. Its not a story.

[Steven]

If anything happens it won't be Iran!!Just because our Government says something does not make it true!!

[Chad Evans]

Gentle Cricket,

In my view it's not wise to consider this, as you say, "heavy speculation." It would be heavy speculation as to what, if anything, will be done on August 22. I for one believe there will be an announcement on August 22 that Iran will not accept the proposal, Iran has said as much, but they will do it in a way that pins their hopes on capturing the Ummah.

But the reason to believe this is more than just some paranoia, other than the history of Islam, is that Iran's political figures have stated something indeed will happen on the 22nd and there is no question Ahmadinejad wants to bring forth the 12th Imam. One doesn't drop notes down a well in Qaim, allegedly where this Imam has been living for centuries feeding on well water and sand, to the Imam for nothing. There can be no serious denying Ahmadinejad's quest to bring forth the return of the 12th Imam and his desire to unite the Ummah, but is it this date in which he has already signaled the day he chooses to try to bring about that change? I don't know, but it's rather strange that no major publication has yet to discuss this topic, that is until the WSJ and I just hope it was in their print version.

[Rastaman]

I have a few thoughts on the 22nd me darn self... You do know that AMadManO'Jihad has demanded and gotten a new date of the 31st. Hey, anything he wants....
So I'm wondering that if he does plan some big fireworks somewhere, or some WHERES, as the case may be, that he wants a time break after his little holocaust so he can then step up and say "Now give me what I want or else I strike again". If he does successfully pull off some sort of disaster on someone, that would give the nutjob confidence that the 12th imam was back... somewhere....

So I'm watching and waiting. Something is in the wind, for sure.

Rastaman
www.islamanazi.com

[lenny]

Never uncritically believe fantastical stories that seem devoid of any rationality.

This reminds me of a kid of 12 or so that I overheard in summer 2002, who was leaving the city and going on vacation with his family for a week, and said "at least for this week saddam wont be able to nuke us because we'll be far away from any cities". ...Nothing new under the sun

[The]

I haven't heard anything about his until now. It still sounds like heavy speculation. However, considering the grossly inflammatory statements made by Ahmedinejad on several occassions, I wouldn't put much past him.

Logic reasons against any action by Iran, but logic is not Ahmedinejad's strong suit.