The Implications of a Nuclear Iran
January 15, 2007
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice swept out of Jerusalem today after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Their meeting touched on the moribund "peace process," and they decided to hold a three way meeting in the near future with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
However, a less heralded meeting in Jerusalem today discussed a potentially far more dangerous issue to Israel, the U.S., Western countries, you, and me.
Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh spoke to a group of journalists and diplomats at a meeting at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. His subject: the long term implications of a nuclear Iran.
The subject has profound meaning for us all.
While we've touched on some of these issues before in Jerusalem Dateline, here are some of the insights Sneh offered:
. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinijad belongs to a sect of Shiites that believes the Madhi - or Twelfth Imam - will soon appear. Not only does Ahmadinijad believe that Islamic messiah will make an appearance in the near future but also that he has a specific role in assisting in the Madhi's return. In fact, Ahmadinijad believes the Mahdi allowed him to become president of Iran in order to facilitate his return.
. This Mahdi will only appear if there is a doomsday, an apocalyptic cauldron sweeping the earth. These conditions must precede the coming of the Mahdi. Following his appearance, the Mahdi will establish an Islamic Shiite world government.
. As mayor of Tehran, Adnadinijad constructed a wide boulevard into the city that the Mahdi will use to make his triumphant return.
. The elimination of Israel--the Jewish state-- is part of the preparation of the return of the Mahdi.
. Iran or at least its ruling regime sees itself as not just a regional power but as a global power. They believe Iran is a rising, ascendant superpower while the U.S. and the West are failing and falling global powers.
. Iran wants to establish a Shiite "belt" from Afghanistan to the Mediterranean Sea. The "bricks" for this belt include Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria. Iran maintains a strategic alliance with Syria and is actively trying to subvert both the governments of Iraq and Lebanon.
. Iran is also active in the Gulf region where they are threatening many of the Gulf States. As Sneh said, the Gulf States are scared and "well they should be."
. All or most of Iran's naval exercises are designed to take over the Straights of Hormuz. Twenty percent of the world's oil passes through this strategic body of water at the southern tip of the Persian Gulf. If Iran's leaders could control this petroleum choke point, they could wield enormous control over the world's economies.
Given these conditions, Sneh asked his audience to consider the implications of a nuclear Iran. What would the Middle East look like, or indeed the world, if Iran could hold us hostage through nuclear blackmail?
It's a scenario we should pray does not develop in 2007.
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
