Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

JOURNAL: "For Iran's Shiites, a Celebration of Faith and Waiting: Marking the birth of an imam who is said to return someday," by Michael Slackman, New York Times, 30 August 2007, p. A4.

Well written, balanced exploration of the Shiite holiday celebrating the birth of the 12th, or "hidden imam." The Shiia await his return like Christians--some more anxiously than others--await the Messiah's return.

Ahmadinejad talks like a true believer, but as we've survived two born-agains in office (Carter, now Bush), Iran seems to be weathering Ahmadinejad.

Some critics (both external and internal) make a big deal out of Ahmadiejad's professions of such faith (I maintain he's a crafty Persian Newt Gingrich who'll say anything to advance his agenda), Slackman says that in Qum, the Shiia quasi-Vatican (along with Najaf in Iraq, where Sistani presides), "no one here seems to buy that view [that Ahmadinejad so awaits the prophet he'll trigger war to achieve Armageddeon], at least publicly.

As one Tehran social psychologist (yes, they have those in Iran) says:

"[Iranians] feel at home with a prophet coming. They are comfortable waiting, waiting for salvation, waiting to be saved, waiting for good days."

Me too, despite all the threats about being "left behind."