Originally Posted by baloney_detector

The Return of the Mahdi is Imminent; the West's Hegemony Has Come to an End

In his speech at the annual conference on the doctrine of Mahdism, held in Tehran on August 25-26, Ahmadinejad stated that Western dominance has come to an end, and called upon the nations of the world to rebel "against the oppressive imperialist powers" in preparation for the coming of the Hidden Imam:

"The Hidden Imam is heir to everything that has been good and beautiful throughout history, and the call [to await his coming] is a call [to have faith] in the missions of the divine prophets, in monotheism and in justice... These days, humanity is pining for monotheism and justice. With God's grace, the [preparations] for a flood of compassion, truth and justice will soon be complete...

"The message of Mahdism, which calls [to believe] in the savior [i.e., the Hidden Imam], brings hope and joy to people [throughout the world]. [It is] a message of steadfastness and patience and of resisting the oppressors [i.e., the West, headed by America]; it is a message of submission [to God] and the pursuit of justice and honor. The current situation in the world has led the nations to reject in disgust the rule of the oppressors. Now is the time to invite people to accept the rule of the righteous, and [especially that] of the most righteous of [rulers] – the Hidden Imam...

"Today's imperialist forces give humanity nothing by forcing wars [upon it], plundering its resources, violating [human] rights, issuing threats, trampling human dignity and [spreading] corruption, vice and insecurity... The oppressors and tyrants are responsible for all the difficulties and problems currently faced by the nations, and the only way to establish justice is through popular uprising and determined resistance in the face of these oppressors...

"[The day] of these aggressors... who are oppressing and controlling the nations, is now coming to an end. Those who [seek to] distract the people with a materialistic philosophy of one kind or another, and who pursue materialism, have brought humanity nothing but despair and deception... The time of the righteous rulers will come, and the most righteous [of rulers, [i.e., the Hidden Imam], will form a government and thereby instate the monotheism of Abraham [throughout the world]. That day is not far away...

"Our enemies naturally feel threatened by the call to [believe in] the Mahdi, for they do not want people to thinks about justice. But our reply to them is that the era of the aggressive [powers] has come to an end. We believe that it is time for the righteous to rule, and for humanity to be properly [re]born out of love, knowledge and spirituality."(14)

In his speech at the opening of the fourth World Assembly of the Ahl Al-Beit Foundation, held in Tehran in August 18-19, 2007, Ahmadinejad said: (15) "Today we must prepare ourselves to carry out the responsibility [placed] upon us... which transcends the [boundaries of the] Muslim world... Islam is the truth. This truth was only partly revealed in Judaism and Christianity, but is fully revealed in Islam... Today, as ever, the world needs the Hidden Imam, [for] it is suffering under the yoke of dishonest [rulers]... Our mission transcends the geographical boundaries of the Muslim [world]. Our clerics have a responsibility to call upon humanity as a whole to [embrace] the [true] monotheism and the rule of monotheistic principles."(16)

In an August 28, 2007 speech Ahmadinejad added that "the current problems faced by the world result from [the rule] of unworthy rulers. The ultimate solution is to replace these unworthy regimes and rulers, and to establish the rule of the Hidden Imam..."(17) Those who are not versed in [the doctrine of Mahdism] believe that the return [of the Hidden Imam] will occur only in a very long time, but, according to the divine promise, [his return] is imminent..." (18

On August 29, 2007, Ahmadinejad said, "The Iranian nation and the Islamic Revolution have a pivotal role in preparing the ground for the coming of the Hidden Imam... We must rapidly develop Iran in order to create the [right] conditions for his coming, and we must also help the rest of the world's nations [to prepare for his return], in order to precipitate this great event..."(19)

"The responsibility that currently rests on Iran's [shoulders] is very heavy; it is the kind of mission that the divine prophets [were entrusted with]. It does not permit us to rest or slumber even for a moment. Have you ever seen a prophet take a rest from the fulfillment of his mission?..."(20)

MEMRI: Latest News

(So, are we supposed to trust Ahmadinejad and his ilk with nuclear technology?)

Originally Posted by gonefishin

It is always frightening when political leaders believe they have a direct line to God. this is what scares me about Bush as well, that he claims to speak to God and God told him to go to war.

Originally Posted by highway80west

As far as the leader of Iran is concerned, his enemy must be Israel. He said he is ready to attack Israel if (he thinks) Israel will attack Iran. Doesn't that truly tell you of his hatred for Israel, when Israel says no way they would attack Iran? I think the president of Iran is nuts.

Originally Posted by baloney_detector

Well, Ahmadinejad has served as the mouthpiece for the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

And I seriously doubt that what he publicly states falls too far out of line with
what Khamenei wants him to say being that he is truly the guy in charge in
Iran...especially with regards to Iran's foreign affairs.

And Israel has been in Iran's crosshairs for many years.

And there has been substantial debate this week regarding Israel's recent
air attack on Syria. People are thinking that this attack was meant to test
Syria's air defenses...and Iran's since its air defenses are thought to be less
formidable. And people are thinking that this air attack was meant to be a
signal towards Iran in the sense that Israel can just as well strike them too.

(I find it interesting that Syria has become silent on the matter. Perhaps it
is true that the Israelis struck a very sensitive (read: weapons-related)
target in Syria, as some people have been theorizing?)

I don't think the Israelis are going to sit on their hands, so to speak, and
allow Iran to develop any serious nuclear capability given the history of
Iran's involvement with Hezbollah.

And I think Israel will conclude that allowing Iran that capability will be far too
dangerous to their existence.

We, meaning the world, are entering some dangerous times, my friend.

Originally Posted by neoconkitty

russia ultimately would love to control iran since there is a huge ammount of them there. who's better russia or the troll puppet.