The man that Western civilization had learned to hate has finally been relegated to the chronicles of history. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who had been president of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 2005, has now been replaced by the newly elected Hassan Rowhani who will take office on August 3, 2013.
Mr. Rowhani by his own admitting and by his worldwide reputation is a “moderate” and a “reformist”, two words that will undoubtedly attract the West, if no detract them from pursuing sanctions and boycott of Iranian oil as a result of the recent arrogance displayed by the previous government. How convenient!
Hassan Rowhani is an Iranian cleric who started his activities during the Iranian revolution of the mid-70s when he was closely following exiled leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Rowhani’s education has garnered him several degrees in judicial law, philosophy and psychology with a thesis on “The Flexibility of Sharia” (sounds somewhat oxymoronic to me!). His dealing with Western culture and civilization has allowed him to paint himself as less of a hardliner than Ahmadinejad, and more of a diplomat. Sounds promising coming from a country that vows to eradicate the “Little Satan” (Israel) and the Great Satan (America) to make room for the advent of the Twelfth Imam and establish the Caliphate under sharia law (Islamic rule from the Q’uran). SO WHY AM I NOT EXCITED ABOUT THIS?
• Rowhani was one of the 8 candidates chosen by Iran’s supreme leader Sayyed Ali Khameini (who has held his position since the death of Khomeini in 1989). Ali Khameini is no friend of the West and even lesser of a friend of Israel. He is a member of the “Combatant Clergy Association” which is a conservative clerical party promoting sharia. Incidentally, Mr. Rowhani is also a member of the same party and he was the only cleric in the presidential race. I have yet to see ANY MUSLIM GOVERNMENT RULED BY SHARIA AND BEING FRIENDLY TO THE WEST LET ALONE ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
• Rowhani knows a lot about nuclear energy for a cleric. He was the on the Supreme National Security Council for 16 years until he resigned under the newly formed government of Ahmadinejad. His knowledge and leadership in nuclear negotiations have earned him the nickname of “Diplomat Sheik”. The whole world will be watching him as he navigates between the iron-fisted decisions from Khameini and the expectation of a worried West, facing a nuclear war. He has been known as a shrewd but smooth master negotiator. I FIND IT EASIER TO DISSIMULATE THE TRUTH WHEN YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GIVEN TOPIC.
• Rowhani’s position appears to be antithetical to that of Ahmadinejad in terms of diplomacy, politics, nuclear energy and even Israel. He is very understated yet very connected. Ahmadinejad was an “in-your-face” anti-Semite while Rowhani is more evasive about Israel and appears more open to Iran/US relations. His soft approach is extremely appealing to the West and will very possibly be Iran’s new asset in global diplomacy, SO WHY AM I STILL NOT EXCITED ABOUT THIS?
The reason is quite simple, as a westerner, a follower of Yeshua of Nazareth and a Jew (that’s three strikes against me from the perspective of radical Islam), I’d much rather be running the risk of being stabbed in my face than being stabbed in the back. As much as I loathed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s venomous boldness and his ideology of hatred (yet I still pray for his salvation), I am fearful of a man who under the cloak of smooth talking and international compromise is nothing but the next puppet used by Supreme leader Ali Khameini who ultimately makes all the final decisions.
I believe that Rowhani’s win equates to a corporation (Iran) changing approach in a product development (Nuclear program) by using a different ad campaign (Rowhani) to replace the old campaign (Ahmadinejad) that was not selling very well lately.
Rowhani has been labelled a pragmatic but I fear that this might be a bit of false advertising. Iran is at a crossroad on the international scene and could use a break to regroup economically, politically and even ideologically. This break of course would also buy them time to complete and fulfill their nuclear agenda under the nose of the West without sanctions and appearing to be in full cooperation. Seing the way that the West in general and America in particular have been buying this new approach hook, line and sinker, this might turn out not being such a hard sell after all!
The Islamic Republic of Iran is lead by a team of Imams who seek to destroy the West and Israel and usher in the twelfth Imam. THAT MAKES THEM EXTREMISTS and you cannot be “moderately extremist” just like according to the movie “The Princess Bride” you cannot be “mostly dead”.
I am not looking forward to the coming of the Twelfth Imam but to the Second Coming of Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of God to establish His Kingdom and bring real peace in the world to all Jews, Christians and Muslims who put their trust in Him.
Every word written in the scriptures must be fulfilled. As a believer in Yeshua, I too, know that most leaders around the glob are under the direct influence of Satan.
I admire your ability to pray for Ahmadinejad’s salvation. I must confess that I have never done that.
I have prayed for Obama. I prayed that he be cursed, ‘that his wife be made a widow, and that his children be made fatherless.’ This is a prayer that David prayed.
When Obama wanted Israel to return to the 67 borders, I prayed that prayer.
I know that we are supposed to pray for our enemies, so I will follow your example, and will pray for these men tonight.
In my heart I know that I despise them, and that is a fact that frightens me. Tonight I will pray out of obedience. Please pray for me to have a softer heart, and thank you for your work.
Be blessed my brother.