August 22nd - The End of the World?

August 22nd, specifically, is the date Iranian President Ahmadinejad promises to reply to the demands of the West that he cease and desist his nuclear weapons programs. Fat chance; he's already watch the world back down from Hezbollah, he knows they wouldn't dare take him on. But why specifically 8/22, and what kind of reply is the mystic Ahmadinejad preparing to deliver? Some thoughts, first from Planck's Constant:

What is the significance of Aug. 22? This year, Aug. 22 corresponds, in the Islamic calendar, to the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year 1427. This, by tradition, is the night when many Muslims commemorate the night flight of the prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, first to "the farthest mosque," usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and back (c.f., Koran XVII.1). This might well be deemed an appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far from certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possibility in mind.

Alan Sullivan gets a bit more specific:

I believe the August 16 atrocity [the thwarted British airliner attack - ed.] was intended to be part of the ramp-up to even larger events — possibly an Iranian nuclear EMP attack on Israel, set for August 22, to make a great light over Jerusalem, in accord with prophecy. Iran has hosted Al Qaeda leaders, and it seems plausible to me that some top Iranians were briefed on this latest Al Qaeda project. They may even have coordinated plans. As a result, the British bust may have interrupted the schedule of the jihadist war. But it will only be a short reprieve at best.

The Right Truth recalls the Iranian leader's insane letters to Bush and other Western leaders:

Villagers With Torches reminds us, "If one understands the meanings in the first mind blowing letter to Bush, by Ahmadi-nejad, making the call to Islam, then this kind of thing, among the Hojatieh is not exactly a shock." Ahmadinejad sent a letter to George W. Bush which was made public. He also sent a letter to France's Jacques Chirac and Germany's Angela Merkle.(via Regime Change Iran and Monsters and Critics)
If Ahmadinejad's message was the same in all three letters, he has issued his invitation to at least three Western nations to 'accept Islam or else'. Or else what? Perhaps we will find out on the night of August 21 and into the day of August 22.

Another point from Zionist.com:

Also of note is that August 22 of this year corresponds with the Islamic date of Rajab 28, the day Saladin conquered and entered Jerusalem.
Taken in conjunction with Ahmadinejad’s stated desire to see Israel destroyed, it hardly seems a coincidence.
Will the coming months see Ahmadinejad attempt to bring about Imam Mahdi’s return by attacking Israel

Finally, from In the Bullpen - is Ahmadinejad already making his move?

AKI reports that Teheran is to begin, on Saturday, a series of missile launch tests … The missiles being launched from border provinces is designed to maxmize the range...
Iran seems to have two missiles ready, the Shahab - 3, 1,200 mile range and the Shahab-4 of approximately 2,000 miles, though I have no idea of how many of each...

The manoeuvres will involve the army’s ground and air forces, the general added. “ ‘We should show Iran’s military capability to the enemies,” he said. “No army in the world can confront Iran’s army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Basij (voluntary) forces,” he noted.’

Is all this just for show, for public relations? Is it just a coincidence these maneuvers are taking place the weekend before August 21 and August 22? Is this just Ahmadinejad displaying his military feathers like a peacock displays his feathers for all to see and admire?

Let's keep a sharp eye out...and me, I'll be bringing a little extra bottled water to work that day....

UPDATE: Little Green Footballs posted at virtually the same time as I on the August 22nd topic (cue creepy music); he channels Islamic scholar Bernard Lewis here

UPDATE 8/20: Assorted Babble tosses out the following terrifying thought from Joel Rosenberg:

Some experts even speculate that Iran may already have several atomic bombs and the means to deliver them. When I interviewed President Reagan's Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in February of this year (just a few weeks, as it turned out, before he passed away), he told me on the record that he believed Iran had already gone nuclear and this was why Ahmadinejad was speaking so boldly and provocatively...

More Babble here on 8/22....

Sleep tight, kiddies....