Omar (of the Iraqi blog Iraq the Model) is concerned that it is. It certainly can't be rejected out of hand, given the insanities that have been spouting from Ahmadinejad's mouth recently. He certainly seems of a mind to immanentize the Islamic eschaton.

Morons who think that I'm a right-wing neocon Christer will, of course, scratch their heads at this post, thinking that my only concern is that it will preempt the Rapture.

my only concern is that it will preempt the Rapture

No worries, the returning Christ kicks butt on hiding Imams.

Tob

As with our Christian Rapturists, I suspect that Iranian nut-job is merely following the old adage from Tacitus (the Roman guy not Josh Trevino):

"Religion is what the masses deem true, the wise deem false, and the politicians deem useful."

= = =

I also try to tell the folks at Daily Kos that Hezbollah is like "Left Behind" folks on super steroids and that our western End Timers are mere wannabes compared to the Islamic version.

That said, we need better strategery against those Iranian nut-jobs than the strategery we have now.

No worries, the returning Christ kicks butt on hiding Imams.

Death ray eyes (from the final volume of Left Behind) will beat an AK-47 six days a week and on Sunday, too.

...we need better strategery against those Iranian nut-jobs than the strategery we have now.

Bill, (a rare event) I agree. Sadly, I seen nothing coming out of your party that indicates they agree. Unless the preferred "strategery" is to cut and run, or "negotiate" until they get nukes.

Contrary to the nutty opinions of many apparent readers of this site (I use the word "apparent" because it's apparent to me that they either don't actually read this site, or don't comprehend written Engish), I'm not thrilled with this adminstration. But I don't see anything better on offer from them.

"I'm not thrilled with this adminstration. But I don't see anything better on offer from them."

Rand,
How does this sound? Nuke the entire world before anyone has a chance to attack us, then commit suicide so their foreign ashes don't pollute our precious American bodily fluids. The fact is you don't seem to have very many ideas yourself, and belittle any plan that doesn't involve loud bangs and bright flashes as "do-nothingness." I think perhaps the reason you're not buying liberal strategies is that, like many on the right, you view conflict as the default state of affairs rather than a political failure, and end up making it happen a lot more often than is necessary. The world was trapped in this self-fulfilling prophecy for most of human history, and far too much misery came of it, but we found alternatives and they work most of the time. War with Iran may happen, but it isn't inevitable until people give up and give in to the real "do nothing" types--the ones who only know how to spread destruction and chaos. That Ahmadinejad may be such a person is cause for concern, but at the moment our primary worry should be that George W. Bush has proven he prefers war to any state short of it. People like that love to talk about "appeasement" and cite Neville Chamberlain as evidence of the naivete of looking for peace, but they overlook that WW2 had the moral authority it did only because the victims tried so hard to avoid it. Unlike its predecessor, the morally ambiguous political quagmire entered with far less attempt to avoid it, and setting the stage for the rise of both Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany. Rand, I'd advise you spend more time reading history and less time reading Ann Coulter's continuing kampf against reality.

Methinks I see a mutating meme -- from "Rand supports the war, therefore he must be a right-winger, no matter that he disagrees with the right on almost everything else" to "Rand doesn't have any ideas, therefore he must be a right-winger, no matter that he disagrees with the right on almost everything." Amazing.

How does this sound? "You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once." -- R.A.H.

My only knowledge of the "Left Behind" series is that Democrats seem to be very familiar with them, and that supposedly all Republicans sleep with them under their pillow. Still, I'll agree that a Death Ray will beat an AK-47 anyday of the week, and twice on Sunday.

I also find it interesting that people, who could go anyway in terms of voting for the two parties, are derided when they mention what is preventing them from voting for Democrats. It's apparent that some people don't want to hear how they are losing elections. They can spout poll numbers of the President all day long, but his numbers were low during the Summer of '04, yet Kerry never came to the table with a plan, just talk that he had one and would share it post election.

I agreed with Bill White, that the administration missed the boat with the Cedar Revolution. On Iran, my Iranian born coworker estimates roughly 50% of the country doesn't like the current government, but that live is just too easy (as in it is easier to keep your head down, and mouth shut) to do much about it. The US seems impotent in this area, and the situation only gets worse as we do nothing.

I'd advise you spend more time reading history and less time reading Ann Coulter's continuing kampf against reality.

I do read history, and I don't read Ann Coulter, you ignoramus.

Rand is a rocket guy, hence wingless.

The strateegery should be tailored to the delusion. If they don't give a fig for life or a frog for the material then attack what they do value. Strive to stymie whatever would amount to success in their terms; any victory pyrrhic. What that would be is beyond me but then I'm not making the big bucks.

People like that love to talk about "appeasement" and cite Neville Chamberlain as evidence of the naivete of looking for peace, but they overlook that WW2 had the moral authority it did only because the victims tried so hard to avoid it.

I am sure that moral authority was an enormous consolation to every WWII dead, who would have lived if France and Britain took out Hitler in 1936.

Brian spouts: How does this sound? Nuke the entire world before anyone has a chance to attack us, then commit suicide so their foreign ashes don't pollute our precious American bodily fluids.

It sounds like your normal spouting of how everyone else is an idiot, except for you. I shall forever from now call you Squidward. Diplomacy was tried on innumberable occasions and it failed. You will neve agree it failed because you believe that negotiating is always right, even as the bullet is entering your brain. C'mon Squidward, open your eyes and see.

Brian Swiderski wrote:
you view conflict as the default state of affairs rather than a political failure

Err... conflict is the default state of affairs for Mankind. Crack any history book, or try to look beyond the West's borders.

We are fortunate to live in an oasis of peace, but don't let it blind you to reality. We are the exception, not the rule; when Iran say they want to nuke us, it's not a political bluff.

"I'd advise you spend more time reading history and less time reading Ann Coulter's continuing kampf against reality."

when you complete reality 101, you can talk. Untill then you have no moral authority on the subject.

Squidward?

CJ says: Squidward?

Yup, Squidward from Spongebob Squarepants. Thinks he's smarter, classier, more informed, better artist than anyone and everyone else. He's never wrong, can't see an opposing point of view to save his life.

It fits like a glove.

Squidward it shall be!

The reson diplomacy will not work is becasue of the thinking of extremist. Try this on for size, you fire a gun in a momment of anger. Yes your anger can and more then likely will go away but the bullet has no remorse, it has only one objective and it is destruction. Your not going to calm the bullet down, your not going to work a deal with the bullet. It is in motion and will stay that way till either Stopped or it completes its course. The extremist are like the bullet but fired hundreds of years ago. They want the total annhialation or conversion of the world. Listen to them, It's not just kill this country or that country, i mean you will hear the names of certain countries but they lump everyone into one group, "Infidels". This is not a political term, this term describes anyone not of there religious beliefs. WIth that said i dont know the answer to the problems in the mid-east, and will not attempt to act as though i do, noone does. But to sit on the side lines while this "bullet" is headed for humanity is something we can not afford to do.

Is Bush -Bashing a political policy? Seems to me, the Dems can't come up with any strategy to fighting the bad guys. I would like to hear just one plan from the left. That's all JUST ONE.

Be prepared to defend it logically. No Spin. Present a plan.