'Divine mission' driving Iran's new leader

[ECH1969]

As Iran rushes towards confrontation with the world over its nuclear programme, the question uppermost in the mind of western leaders is "What is moving its President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to such recklessness?"

In November, the country was startled by a video showing Mr Ahmadinejad telling a cleric that he had felt the hand of God entrancing world leaders as he delivered a speech to the UN General Assembly last September.

When an aircraft crashed in Teheran last month, killing 108 people, Mr Ahmadinejad promised an investigation. But he also thanked the dead, saying: "What is important is that they have shown the way to martyrdom which we must follow."

The most remarkable aspect of Mr Ahmadinejad's piety is his devotion to the Hidden Imam, the Messiah-like figure of Shia Islam, and the president's belief that his government must prepare the country for his return.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/01/14/wiran14.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/01/14/ixworld.html

[Selteri]

1. THis week on PAY PER VIEW!!!

This week! Bush "The Jesus Rancher" Bush vs Mohammad "Divine Mission from GOD" Khatami!

Two people on divine missions going head to head! Who's god is stronger? Who has a more important divine mission?

000000000000000000000000000000000000

Even more importantly, why are we people so stupid to believe some jerkoff who makes a claim about being on a divine mission when the reality is they only divinity they ever got close to is often depicted with cheesy red facial paint, cloven feet a spaded tail and sporting a trident. Problem is, he's nowhere near God.

[tocqueville]

2. this guy should work for the WH

they really think alike

[tocqueville]

3. they won't be happy before they nuke eachother

Iran's dominant "Twelver" sect believes this will be Mohammed ibn Hasan, regarded as the 12th Imam, or righteous descendant of the Prophet Mohammad.

He is said to have gone into "occlusion" in the ninth century, at the age of five. His return will be preceded by cosmic chaos, war and bloodshed. After a cataclysmic confrontation with evil and darkness, the Mahdi will lead the world to an era of universal peace.

This is similar to the Christian vision of the Apocalypse. Indeed, the Hidden Imam is expected to return in the company of Jesus.

Mr Ahmadinejad appears to believe that these events are close at hand and that ordinary mortals can influence the divine timetable.

_________________________________________________________________

what's the difference between this guy and US fundies ? tell me

[madrchsod]

4. wow! these guys are crazier than our religious freaks

i`m not an expert on koran but i didn`t think there was a prophesy of a messiah

[FloridaPat]

5. Yes, there is - the 13th Iman. Will come and make everything

good.

[CJCRANE]

10. Correct -

Mohammed is the "Seal of the Prophets"(i.e. the last one) according to the Koran.

Many muslims believe in the second coming of Jesus (but he's just a prophet to them not son of God).

The 13th Imam stuff comes from a Shia sect so it's not orthodox nor believed by the majority of muslims.

[FloridaPat]

6. Competition for the anti-Christ title I see. Maybe the anti-Christ is

more than one person.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Geez, Ahmadinejad is George Bush East, two sides of the same coin.

[IndianaGreen]

8. Both of them are in need of therapy

and they should be committed to a mental institution until they get over their delusions.

[Wind Dancer]

11. These guys have the ability to destroy the planet.

This stuff scares me beyond words, they're all delusional, powerful and dangerous.

[rodeodance]

9. God speaks to Jr and Mahmound. quite a pair.