Should we order DEFCON 1 for August 22nd?
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Should we order DEFCON 1 for August 22nd?
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."
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."
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SAS,
Get down in your bunker mate and we'll let you know when it's all clear.
If you're struggling for rations, go to the local store and acquire a load of honey as it has an indefinite shelf life.
Three feet of earth cover should give a protective factor of at least x1000. Stay down there for a fortnight, then you can come out for brief periods for the next month or so. After that, wash fruit and veg thoroughly to decontaminate. Don't eat the 6 legged cows.
Good luck
Edit: Excessive sideslip by No.2 finger
Get down in your bunker mate and we'll let you know when it's all clear.
If you're struggling for rations, go to the local store and acquire a load of honey as it has an indefinite shelf life.
Three feet of earth cover should give a protective factor of at least x1000. Stay down there for a fortnight, then you can come out for brief periods for the next month or so. After that, wash fruit and veg thoroughly to decontaminate. Don't eat the 6 legged cows.
Good luck
Edit: Excessive sideslip by No.2 finger
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I am not too worried....the prevailing winds here are from the West....thus unless they hit the land of fruits, flakes, and nuts.....I am okay!
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In a WALL STREET JOURNAL op-ed
Cunning Artificer
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If I was sitting on the target coordinates for a couple of hundred thermo-nuclear devices, I'd think twice about firing off one of my own. In the struggle between good and evil it can be difficult to work out which is which, but the universal general principle holds that Might is Right.
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How does one deal with a "Suicide Bomber" with a Nuke?
"Might" might not work in that scenario.
"Might" might not work in that scenario.
dy 'ell ....
More bang for your buck
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Originally Posted by Blacksheep
If I was sitting on the target coordinates for a couple of hundred thermo-nuclear devices, I'd think twice about firing off one of my own. In the struggle between good and evil it can be difficult to work out which is which, but the universal general principle holds that Might is Right.
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August 22nd?? Why, that's the 521st anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth Field, which took place not a million miles from here. There will be a re-enactment of the battle, which is usually very realistic and energetic, and I suppose things might just get out of hand. I shall don my helmet and breastplate just in case, and leap onto a horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse...............etc. Definitely DEFCON 1.
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Somehow I keep thinking France ought to have been a training stop on the way to Baghdad.
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Why not go to "Condef 1" or whatever anytime Bush has a bowel movement?
I don't suppose that would make much difference to the pathetic remnants of our strategic forces. Why not send our man in Tehran around to tell to the current Ayatolah i/c that any WMD outrage on 22 Aug (or indeed any other day) will result in the obliteration of the following list of cities/shrines: Tehran, Mecca.... That's about what the Soviet ambo did in 1978.
More seriously, the Brit intelligence community used to maintain some sort of credibilty by acting as referee between the various warring factions among their US colleagues. I fear this was destroyed by various chiefs of our intel agencies allowing themselves and their organisations to be corrupted politically during the lead-in to Gulf 2.
If intel is to regain any sort of credibility, an international agency of "wise men" is needed to moderate the various agencies.
I don't suppose that would make much difference to the pathetic remnants of our strategic forces. Why not send our man in Tehran around to tell to the current Ayatolah i/c that any WMD outrage on 22 Aug (or indeed any other day) will result in the obliteration of the following list of cities/shrines: Tehran, Mecca.... That's about what the Soviet ambo did in 1978.
More seriously, the Brit intelligence community used to maintain some sort of credibilty by acting as referee between the various warring factions among their US colleagues. I fear this was destroyed by various chiefs of our intel agencies allowing themselves and their organisations to be corrupted politically during the lead-in to Gulf 2.
If intel is to regain any sort of credibility, an international agency of "wise men" is needed to moderate the various agencies.
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Let me get this straight. A Bernard from a big school in America reckons that, on 22/08/06, some unspecified 'Cataclysmic Events' are in the pipeline because of some quasi religious sudoku puzzle. The Mystical but Wily Oriental Gentlemen of Middle Eastebad have tickets for a "cosmic struggle" at the Flying Horse, near 2 hills outside Cambridge, all watched by some ****es. On the strength of that, we are all supposed to stock up the larder and stack some tinnies in; preferably under several feet of earth? I can't see where the MoD Contracts Form fits in, though.
I think I’m on leave that day as well.
I think I’m on leave that day as well.