The Discerning Texan
-- Edmund Burke
Monday, August 07, 2006
What is going to happen on August 22?
I believe Ahmadinejad is a certafied lunatic, and that if the West does not act before August 22, we will be sorry we did not.
And then I will say: I hope that I am wrong about this. But I am not counting on that.
See what you think after reading Frau Budgie's post from the July 21 edition of Red Hot Cuppa Politics. And, yes--it is scary as hell:
Have you ever noticed how often Islamists use the word "normal" and "logical" when they're justifying something preposterous?
From IRNA:
Iran said on Thursday the special panels studying package of the European Union (EU) for national nuclear program will work out a reply by August 22.In response, diplomats are mulling over sending Iran to the UN security council -- but Russia and China are already waffling.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the EU package as a new initiative from the European partners and is considering context of the package with positive attitude. It is normal that it takes time to examine the offer and it is logical to accomplish the job by August 22. The specialized panels are seriously working on the project," Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani said in a statement
From President AllMyGooseSteppin'Jihadi's Blogspot, a couple of days ago:
Stressing that the enemies of Muslim nations are approaching the end of the road and are about to drown, the president said that for this reason they have subjected Muslim nations to their rage and hatred. "The day on which the regional people will rejoice will definitely come soon and the world is standing on the threshold of great development and the Muslims are expected to overcome their aggressive enemies," said the president Ahmadinejad addressing the Zionist regime as well as their supporters proposed.Wish I spoke Arabic, the above is a translation, although since it's on "Dear Leader" -- oops, I mean the Iranian president's -- blogspot, it must be something he agrees with.
Addressing a local seminar attended by several university professors and thinkers in this northeastern provincial capital, he said bullying powers will soon burn in the fire of regional nations' wrath and the scenario of oppressors is coming to end. The world is on the verge of great developments, he said, adding that world Muslims will soon be victorious over their aggressors.
Anyhow, interesting that he should say that. Also, when he refers to "soon," I wonder if he means August 22nd, which is the date that the Iranians have said they'll give their answer about the latest negotiation package to Western powers.
There's not much remarkable about August 22nd in history -- except that it's the date of the al-Aqsa Mosque fire in 1969.
From PalestineFacts:
In the morning of August 21, 1969, a fire at Masjid al-Aqsa, the al-Aqsa Mosque opposite the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, gutted the southeastern wing of the mosque. The area is known to Muslims as Haram as-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary. The location of the mosque has been venerated by Muslims for almost 1,300 years, as the reputed site of a visit by Mohammed on his winged horse, El-BaraqWell, turned out that the guy that set the fire was a crazy Aussie, Dennis Michael Rohan, who was arrested, put in a mental hospital, and deported from Israel. Now, by Western logic, that would put an end to it, right?
Nope.
The Palestinian Authority teaches through its schoolbooks and through its leaders that Israel stood behind the fire as part of its war against Islam. During a special program that commemorated the burning of the mosque, Sheik Ikrima Sabri, the Mufti (Islamic religious leader) of Jerusalem said: Preparations for this crime took place that were expressed in the statements of senior officials and rabbis who said that Al-Aksa does not belong to the Muslims and that it may be destroyed... They tried to instigate people against those in charge of Al-Aksa and threaten them... Rohan the Australian who burned Al-Aksa had no idea what Al-Aksa was. He was recruited by number of people who trained him to do this dangerous and sinful task. The long-term goal was, as it was stated back then, a plot whose main goal was to attack the Muslim holy sitesForget that the Muslim holy sites were guarded by Muslims at the time. And forget that nobody really cares about the Muslim holy sites, although in the past few years, radical Muslims have expressed their reverence for mosques by hiding weapons in them.
Anyway, the Al Aqsa fires have been commemorated by Hezbollah in their own special way:
"... on August 19, 1993 nine Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon. A statement issued by Hezbollah announced the assault was timed to mark the anniversary. After an August 21, 1995 bus bombing in Jerusalem, Syrian radio aired statements by Fayiz Qabdil in a "Palestine Broadcast" segment linking the bus attack to commemoration of the al-Aqsa fire.I don't think August 22 is just a random date the Iranians pulled out of the air, but they know the irony will be lost on Western diplomats.
Nobody honestly knows how far the Iranians have gotten with their nuclear program. It's possible that this year, Hezbollah could celebrate with more than a crummy suicide bomb on an Israeli school bus.
Charles Johnson noted the date a couple of weeks ago, reprinting information from Zionist.com: August 22, 2006, corresponds with the Islamic date of Rajab 28, the day Saladin conquered and entered Jerusalem. Also, I guess the 12th Imam's supposed to show up in Iran sometime in August (this time for sure) , at least according to rumors. Remember, rumors on the Arab street also include that US troops have air-conditioned underwear and x-ray sunglasses that allow GI's to see women's underwear.
The Freepers have also mulled over the significance of the date.
Debbie, over at RightTruth raises some really good questions about the Iranians announcement yesterday. Good to see her back behind the keyboard!
Amber (The War for America) has more, as does Robert Spencer at Jihad Watch. He concludes (emphasis is mine):
Evidently, however, Muhammad’s stories of his journey were not altogether convincing: even some of the Muslims abandoned their faith and challenged Muhammad’s most faithful follower, Abu Bakr, to do the same. Abu Bakr was contemptuous: “If he says so then it is true. And what is so surprising in that? He tells me that communications from God from heaven to earth come to him in an hour of a day or night and I believe him, and that is more extraordinary than that at which you boggle!” The world has continued to witness such unshakeable devotion from Muslims to this day.
Did Muhammad really go anywhere? According to his favorite wife, Aisha, he did not: “The apostle’s body remained where it was but God removed his spirit by night.” Nevertheless, the Night Journey has become firmly embedded in the Islamic consciousness, such that Muslims today celebrate it as one of the central events of Muhammad’s life. And now, according to Ghadry, Ahmadinejad is planning an illumination of the night sky over Jerusalem to rival the one that greeted the Prophet of Islam on his journey. What the Iranian President, he says, is “promising the world by August 22 is the light in the sky over the Aqsa Mosque that took place the night before. That is his answer to the package of incentives the international community offered Iran on June 6.”
Certainly a nuclear attack on Jerusalem or even an all-out conventional assault against Israel by Iran would be consistent with Ahmadinejad’s oft-repeated denials of Israel’s right to exist and recent predictions that its demise was at hand. He hinted at the use of nuclear weapons in his phrasing when he said that Israel “pushed the button of its own destruction” by finally retaliating against Hizballah’s relentless rocket barrage from south Lebanon.
“Arrogant powers,” Ahmadinejad said, “have set up a base for themselves to threaten and plunder nations in the region. But today, the occupier regime” – that is, Israel – “whose philosophy is based on threats, massacre and invasion, has reached its finishing line.”
Will he attempt to make good on these threats this year on the anniversary of the Miraj, illuminating the night sky over Jerusalem? Will Western powers heed Farid Ghadry’s words and move to stop Iran before it is too late?
