August 22.

[Spinoza]

Coincidence or Apocalypse? Almost certainly its a coincidence. Still......

snip>"WSJ: Scholar Warns Iran's Ahmadinejad May Have 'Cataclysmic Events' In Mind For August 22
Tue Aug 08 2006 10:22:35 ET

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." <snip

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm

[displacedtexan]

1. Oh, perfect. That's my birthday.

Just my luck.

[newyorican]

5. Mine too...

:yoiks:

[displacedtexan]

7. Are you Rapture Ready?

I just want my cake, damn it.

[mike_c]

2. oh for crying out loud....

Only if Matt Drudge sends him the nuclear bombs himself. It's amazing how easily right wing pundits-- if one wishes to extend even that much credibility to Drudge-- it's amazing how easily they confuse intentions, and rhetorical intentions at that, i.e. hot air blown out of one's ass, for reality. It is apparently only a minor difficulty that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, at least not that anyone is aware of, and is probably at least a decade away from building them. But who is Drudge to let reality impede the spread of some cool sounding pundit speak?

[cali]

3. Reality and Drudge?

Never let it be said about Drudge that he'll let a little reality stand in the way of hysterical hyperbole.

[GeorgeGist]

4. Almost certainly its a coincidence. Still......

lets make up some shit and talk about it.

[Spinoza]

6. To those posters

who are responding as if 'Drudge' wrote the above, instead of just posting it, I guess I must point out that it comes from the Arab and Muslim historian and scholar Bernard Lewis.

>snip "Bernard Lewis (born May 31, 1916, London) is the Cleveland E. Dodge Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. He specializes in Muslim History and the interaction between Muslims and the West. His works on the history of the Ottoman Empire are considered authoritative on the subject.

Lewis is one of the most widely read scholars of the Middle East, whose advice is frequently sought by policymakers. The Encyclopedia of Historians and Historical Writing has written that, over a 60-year career, he has emerged as "the most influential postwar historian of Islam and the Middle East." <1><snip

>snip "He graduated in 1936 from the then School of Oriental Studies (SOAS, now School of Oriental and African Studies) at the University of London with a B.A. in History with special reference to the Near and Middle East, and obtaining his Ph.D. three years later, also from SOAS, specializing in the History of Islam. <3> Lewis also studied law, going part of the way toward becoming a barrister, but returned to study Middle Eastern history. He undertook post-graduate studies at the University of Paris, where he studied with Louis Massignon and earned the "Diplôme des Études Sémitiques" in 1937. <1> He returned to SOAS in 1938 as an assistant lecturer in Islamic History."<
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Lewis

He is a controversial figure but noone has questioned his deep knowlege of and scholarship in Arab and Muslim culture and history. He is conversant in Turkish, Arabic and Farsi.

Unfortunately while I have read the complete article in the (physical) Wall Street Journal I couldn't find a (non-subscriber) link to the total article and could only link to the Drudge snippet. Sorry.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Guardian: "Lewis may have completely lost his marbles"

This sort of quasi-religious scaremongering always finds a receptive audience in the United States, especially among Christians of the jihadist persuasion. At 90 years old, Professor Lewis 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". 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. This "might well be of concern to the Palestinians", he says, "but not apparently to their fanatical champions in the Iranian government." (He seems to be assuming here that Iran already has a fully primed nuclear arsenal, which is plainly not the case, despite what many Americans imagine.)
...
So why, exactly, did the Iranians choose August 22 as the date for giving their answer to the US about nuclear development? Probably for bureaucratic convenience. When they promised a reply "by the end of August", they didn't actually use the word "August", but the Iranian equivalent. If you look up the Persian calendar, you'll see that August 22 just happens to be the end of the month known as Mordad.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/brian_whitaker/2006/08/world_to_end_on_august_22.html

Also, a non-subscription link to the WSJ soothsayer: http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110008768

Whittaker points out another right winger, Michael Ledeen, predicted a Iranian bomb on either November 4/5th, or 25th, anniversaries of the seizing of the American embassy and the disappearance of the 12th Imam respectively. November 2003, that is. I'm surprised these people aren't elbow deep in sheep entrails trying to work out what Iran will do.