Twelvers: Irrational, Irresponsible, Irreversible

Book Title Joel A. Rosenberg

There is an explanation why all diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions have failed. The fact that the Shiite culture has no respect for women and our Secretary of State is a female (Hillary Clinton) makes it very difficult to negotiate with irrationality rooted in religious radicalism. Iranian president Ahmadinejad has used the United Nations as his bully pulpit to make shockingly irresponsible statements depicting Israelis as being "deceitful" criminals and murderers. The irreversible attitude of Ahmadinejad and his fellow Twelvers can be explained by their theology.


Islam is divided into two basic denominations; the Sunni and the Shia. About 90% of all Muslims are Sunni, the remaining 10% are Shia. The division can be traced back to the death of Mohammed in AD 632. The Sunnis believe that the legitimate head of Islam should be elected from certified clerics. The Sunnies chose Abu Bakr, Mohammed's close friend, to be the first Caliph of the Islamic nation.

The Shiites believed that the Islamic leader is passed on genetically through the family tree with the blessing of Allah. They chose Mohammed's cousin and son-in-law, Ali. The Shiites have a very strong presence in both Iran and Iraq. The largest faction of the Shias are those who call themselves Twelvers.

The Twelvers teach that there were a total of twelve Imams beginning with Ali. The last Imam was Mahmoud al-Mahdi who mysteriously disappeared in AD 874. Twelvers, like Ahmadinejad, believe that the 12th Imam will return again but not until the world has delved into a state of total upheaval. Iran's president believes he is chosen to create that chaos. When the Imam appears he will issue in an era of peace and justice. He will be accompanied by Jesus Christ who will serve as his right hand man.

All efforts to negotiate or reason with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are fruitless. He is insanely obsessed with his perceived role as the Muslim John the Baptist. If Iran is prevented from making and using a nuclear weapon they must be stopped by military force. If Ahmadinejad believes the 12th Imam will appear in the next year or two why would he make any concessions. The irony of it all is that when the bombs started falling on Iran their Shiite ruler will rejoice because he will be convinced that he has completed his mission to create chaos. He will gloat that he has succeeded in rolling out the red carpet for the 12th Imam.

The Shia believe that certain conditions will precede the coming of the 12th Imam. Besides an atmosphere of chaos, they also teach that there will be a great battle near the holy city of Mecca. This battle will provoke a final confrontation against multitudes of Christians and Jews. The Mahdi will win that war and capture Istanbul, Turkey. He will then become ruler of a vast Islamic empire and rule for a period of seven years.

During this period the Dajjal will reveal himself. He is the Islamic equivalent to the Antichrist. He has the word "Infidel" tattooed on his forehead. He will be a great deceiver and will lead an army of 70,000 Jews and they will be annihilated when Jesus descends from heaven and destroys them with the breath of his wrath.

Ahmadinejad has stated that Allah has raised him up to wipe Israel "off the map." He believes he has been commissioned by the Imam to provoke a battle that will engulf the civilizations of the earth. What better way to do that than to make an atomic weapon and use it, either against Israel or the United States.

After addressing the United Nations in 2005 Ahmadinejad shared this statement, "When I started to say 'In the name of God the almighty and merciful,' he saw a light around me, and I was placed inside this aura. I felt it myself. I felt the atmosphere suddenly change, and for those 27 or 28 minutes, the leaders of the world did not blink…And they were rapt. It seemed as if a hand was holding them there and had opened their eyes to receive the message from the Islamic Republic."

Americans underestimate this man to their own peril. He has primarily targeted America and Israel. He is insane with religious zeal. He is consumed by totalitarian ideology that insists that Islam rule the world. This can't happen until Christians and Jews are annihilated. He has a mystical belief that he is chosen to perform this dastardly deed. Hitler was consumed and he was ignored. Ahmadinejad is consumed and he must not be ignored.



Works Cited:
www.religionfacts.com

Ahmadinejads' Mission and Mysticism by Daniel Piper

Iran Nuclear Sanctions: Ahmadinejad says they won't bite. Christian Science Monitor. Scott Peterson

Apocalyptic Beliefs of Twelver Muslims by David W. Thornton


Kevin Probst - Teaches History, Government and Apologetics at the high school level in Columbus Georgia.

Kilroy Was Here: A Silent Response To Osama's Death.

Kilroy Was Here: A Silent Response To Osama's Death.
By Kevin Probst

As a young chap growing up in northwestern Pennsylvania, I remember how we often got into scraps with other male rivals. Quarrels were sometimes settled at the school flag pole but for those who were concerned about avoiding the wrath of the principal, they settled their differences with fisticuffs on the weekends away from school property. The victor of such a contest would often return to school on Monday morning boasting of his participation in such a contest. His boasting only served to bring contempt from his peers. The one who returned bearing battle scars but who refused to discuss the event would invariably be admired by friend and foe alike.

In those days there was great admiration and respect for the silent warrior. We live in a different culture now. Professional athletes puff out their chests and beat on their pects like savage gorillas after making a great play. A touchdown is always followed by some sort of "Look at how great I am" display in the end zone. Pride rules the day and humility is a lost virtue. Frankly, I admire the player who drops the ball in the end zone and walks off the field demonstrating a different attitude, "What I just did is what others expect me to do. It's what I get paid to do. The cooperative effort of the other ten men on this team enabled me to do this."

Our Navy Seal Team 6 just accomplished an amazing mission by outing Osama bin Laden. The differing attitudes displayed by our military and our politicians are astounding. The military warriors responsible for the victory may never be known. They are okay with that. "It's what we do. It's what we are expected to do." But our politicians mount their steeds and ride around the country beating their chests as if they deserve full credit for this great feat. All the pomp and posturing is quite disgusting. Hungering and maneuvering for a spotlight that should belong to another is juvenile and deplorable.

There is a great World War II mystery about someone named Kilroy. He is an elusive figure. His name was plastered everywhere from U.S. warships cruising in the Pacific Ocean to lonely oak trees in the forests of Germany. "Kilroy was here". The haunting omnipresence of Kilroy offered comfort to our own soldiers and a state of paranoia to our enemies.
When Americans were informed of the assassination of Osama bin Laden were we not give too much information? Why do we have to know that stealth helicopters were used? Why do we have to know the details of the operation, where Osama was shot, that his body was cleaned and dumped in the sea? Why do we have to know the location of his hideout and the squalor he lived in? Is it wise to tell the world that we have confiscated videos and computers from his home? All the information shared with us was also shared with our enemy.

What if President Obama had simply made a very brief, direct statement: "A special ops team has successfully killed Osama bin Laden. We would like to congratulate them for their bravery and their skill and for making our world a safer place. Thank you".

Why not fight terrorism with terrorism? The quiet warrior who came back from the weekend scraps was much more respected and feared than the braggadocios one. Limiting the knowledge we share with the enemy increases their fear and uncertainty. The enemy does not need to now how we conducted the operation, they don't need to know the procedures that were used to obtain information from the prisoners we had captured and they don't need to know we are now gleaning information from Osama's computers.

Rather than use the victory of a team of brave military personnel for our own political benefit, would it not be wiser to take the high road of silence? We could have inflicted greater frustration on our enemies and demanded a deeper respect had we answered them with silence? Would it not have been more unsettling for them had we told the press that Osama had been killed and there would be no further comment?

It's outrageous to think that a proper, Islamic burial might appease the anger of Muslims after we put a hole in Osama's face. Should we not have removed the body, taken valuable information from the compound and spray-painted the wall with "Kilroy was here"?


Kevin Probst - Is a teacher of Apologetics and History at Calvary Christian School and Associate Pastor of Crosspointe Nazarene Church church in Columbus, Georgia.