Battle of the Bilge

“Mad is the man who is forever gritting his teeth against that granite block, complete and changeless, of the past” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Anniversary Boasting

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told his cabinet yesterday that the upcoming 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution will “deliver a harsh blow to the “global arrogance”".

The Press TV article, which is a semi-official Iranian news outlet, stated:

“The Islamic Revolution opened a window to liberty for the human race, which was trapped in the dead ends of materialism,” Ahmadinejad said during a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

“If the Islamic Revolution had not occurred, liberalism and Marxism would have crushed all human dignity in their power-seeking and money-grubbing claws. Nothing would have remained of human and spiritual principles,” he added.

Vague Threats, Hatred

While these threats are usually precursors to new missile tests, enrichment milestones or just general rhetoric, the language carries with it a sort of apocalyptic ring to it. As Ahmadinejad is a firm believer of the return of the Muslim savior, the 12th Mahdi, incredibly stupid actions such as striking out at neighboring states or carrying out a nuclear test can not be out of the question.

With the nation in the midst of a popular uprising since last summer’s disputed presidential election, this is in all likelihood just an attempt to divert attention away from the problems at home. Using the veiled references to Israel and the United States in his ‘power-seeking and money-grubbing claws’, the rhetoric could not be more clear to the Iranian people. He is stating that outside forces, not ruinous internal policies, has led to the troubles they are now experiencing. There is nothing new in this claim, and February 11th should pass with heated demonstrations and celebrations in Tehran.

But, vague messages like this should give Israel and the world pause. If he is insane enough to launch a pre-emptive strike against Israel or other neighbors, especially with nuclear weapons that our intelligence says Iran does not have the capability of producing yet, the world will be in for some dark days ahead. What’s worse is the possibility that Israel may take the threat as a justification to launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities and launch sites, sparking a regional war.

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