Sunday, February 19, 2006
Iran's Nuclear Spring ?
Translating from Iranian sources, MEMRI reports that: "The spiritual leaders of the ultra-conservatives [in Iran] have accepted the use of nuclear weapons as lawful in the eyes of shari'a. Mohsen Gharavian, a disciple of [Ayatollah] Mesbah Yazdi [who is Iranian President Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor], has spoken for the first time of using nuclear weapons as a counter-measure. He stated that 'in terms of shari'a, it all depends on the goal.""
And that: "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad managed, in a very short time, to get the world to forget all about bin Laden. Now all eyes are on the Islamic Republic, and everyone is talking about the danger it [poses]. Two weeks ago, the strategy of assaulting [foreign] embassies was formed as well. America regards Iran and Syria as being behind the recent violent incidents, including the setting fire to embassies in Islamic countries."
The second item shows how highly Iran values the 'mantle of bin Laden' as the public face of militant Islamist leadership, which the author feels Ahmadinejad has captured for Iran. Whether bin laden lives as a man is not really relevant; his image lives and the Iranians want to use it to legitimatize their role as the Supreme Islamist Leader (Caesar is dead; Hail Caesar).
The first item is the first mention of a fatwa allowing the use of nuclear weapons, which was forbiden under sharia law. This fatwa, in combination with Iran's restarting uranium enrichment and demanding France apologize for its nuclear posturing, is seen by some as evidence that Iran has obtained a nuclear device and may test fire it on as soon as this spring.
Michael Ledeen is exceptionally well-informed on Mid-East issues and his latest assessment on Iran covers these issues from the perspective of Iran's view of the West and their intentions. It is not optimistic and makes more urgent his call for "faster, please".
And that: "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad managed, in a very short time, to get the world to forget all about bin Laden. Now all eyes are on the Islamic Republic, and everyone is talking about the danger it [poses]. Two weeks ago, the strategy of assaulting [foreign] embassies was formed as well. America regards Iran and Syria as being behind the recent violent incidents, including the setting fire to embassies in Islamic countries."
The second item shows how highly Iran values the 'mantle of bin Laden' as the public face of militant Islamist leadership, which the author feels Ahmadinejad has captured for Iran. Whether bin laden lives as a man is not really relevant; his image lives and the Iranians want to use it to legitimatize their role as the Supreme Islamist Leader (Caesar is dead; Hail Caesar).
The first item is the first mention of a fatwa allowing the use of nuclear weapons, which was forbiden under sharia law. This fatwa, in combination with Iran's restarting uranium enrichment and demanding France apologize for its nuclear posturing, is seen by some as evidence that Iran has obtained a nuclear device and may test fire it on as soon as this spring.
Michael Ledeen is exceptionally well-informed on Mid-East issues and his latest assessment on Iran covers these issues from the perspective of Iran's view of the West and their intentions. It is not optimistic and makes more urgent his call for "faster, please".
