Jeff,
I agree wholeheartedly with your article, it's just common sense, sadly common sense is not as common as it used to be, enjoyed the read, thank you.

An actual “world state” may not be the aim of the US.
A better understanding than a world state is world hegemony; then all humanitarian obligations are wiped off the slate in the race for profits and colonies. Looting the colonial possessions, monopolizing the markets (nationally and globally) and the battle cry is "no drain or hindrance on profits." No outlay or finance to assist the failed states, poorer states, including the worlds starving or supplying clean water. The former US security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski in 1997 expanded on this theme publishing a book called The Grand Chessboard that dealt with America’s strategy for global supremacy including resources and access to cheap labour under the domination of US multi-nationals. The axis and thrust of the book was "America’s capacity to exercise global primacy" and that meant preventing "the emergence of a dominant and antagonistic Eurasian power." Brzezinski then concluded: "Eurasia is thus the chessboard on which the struggle for global primacy continues to be played."

As well,there are also geopolitical strategic areas of the globe for checking or undermining your trading rival. To control, narrow sea lanes or canals referred to as "choke points." To name a few, the Suez and Panama Canals and another being the Mallacca Straits, shallow and difficult to navigate; where most of Chinas oil is shipped in and finished products shipped out. Other books that deal with this perspective are "resource wars" or "oil wars."
But monopolizing the worlds resources, oil being a critical resource, has its consequences, which become incompatible to other nations. And in consequence, engenders retribution such as trade war and beggar thy neighbour policies. Different nations are thrown into trading blocks and trade war spirals into shooting war. Other nations are forced to take sides and dragged into the fray and "peace in our time" becomes "a war to end all wars" - that is, until the next war comes along.

"Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons to destroy Israel; its leadership is not so stupid as to annihilate itself"

Evidence for this statement? Do you have a direct line to Tehran perhaps? This whole article seems to be based on that one line, with barely a skerrick of supporting argument.

Just because you, perhaps, would not be crazy enough to launch a nuclear missile at Israel, doesn't mean Iran isn't. Suicide bombers seem to think killing themselves with the aim of murdering others has a certain, compelling logic. Why couldn't Iran's leaders be planning a similar end?

grn

Yes, there are always individuals – and groups of individuals – who will engage in suicidal attacks; but even they have to psych themselves up. At the upper levels of a reasonably sophisticated country and culture, it just does not happen! The Nazi regime as a group was never suicidal, and even Hitler only became suicidal toward the end. The basic reason is human nature. The Iranian leadership – like the German leadership (which consisted of committed Nazi’s, nationalists, careerists etc) -- will have a massive majority of people who are not suicidal; indeed, they will be like many people in the Israeli leadership who take particular (often hard-line and misguided) views to ensure that their families, societies and countries have a better life and SURVIVE. You might like to read my book which explores the psychology of such “executive suites”:
http://www.jeffschubert.com/

Jeff Schubert

'Why couldn't Iran's leaders be planning a nuclear attack on Israel?'
That seems to be the question and anything is possible, but let us keep things in perspective. Sharon was one of the first and most avid advocates in the Begin cabinet of Israel’s 1981 air strike on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear plant. Sharon has repeatedly warned that it may sooner or later take direct action to stop any Iranian nuclear plants. Shielded by the US backers in the White House—Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Likud government is able to operate with impunity. And what is more, world leaders know it. There is also the policy to of Sharons Likud Party with the traditional expansionist drive for a "Greater Israel" and the extension of Israels borders.
It is the US and its ally Israel that have made all the bellicose statements against Iran. And there is no shortage of underlying threats in the leading US press as war is being talked up. In 2005 the Sunday Times provided details of Israeli military plans for a strike on Iranian uranium enrichment plants that would dramatically inflame tensions throughout the Middle East. The US is in the Persian Gulf with 2 aircraft carriers, patriot missiles and 50 warships in order to invade Iran! Iran is not in the US sailing up the Mississipi. Israil has nuclear arms supplied by the US.

Israel and the USA want to call the shots ? :)

Myyyyy goodness.. this actually shocks or surprises people ?

Ok..thats one side of the coin. What's the OTHER ?

Here it is.. "Iran or Europe or..Name_The_Country" wants to call the shots.

I suppose we could think out of the loop/square and say.."But a One World Government would be a mighty fine idea"

Conspiracy theories, Jewish plots to control the world, and Illuminati aside.. I wonder if anyone who might advocate such an idea has looked closely at how the UN is infected beyond redemption by vested national interest.. vote buying... lobbying... etc ad absurdum.

Each country is still it's own man. NONE will want to give up sovereignty. They will see the UN as a means to nationalistic/tribal ends rather than a place to sacrifice their independance on the alter of world harmony.

So, call it self defense or arms race.. personally I look to the 2nd coming of Christ to sort it all out.
Something to watch though.. in the backburner of the mind, is a Europe becoming VERY strong..and an Islamization of Europe within 30-50 yrs. Added to that would be a tightening of trade and an increase in personal identity requirements to participate in 'the system'...
Watch to see who ends up occupying the only unoccupied seat at the European Parliament. Can anyone guess its number ? There are 768 seats.
How many of you know on what the European parliament building in Strasbourg was modelled on ? Guess's ? (hold that thought when reading Rev 17 below)
If you see this, then beware... be ready.... because it might just be the beginning of the end.
http://www.assembly-weu.org/en/documents/sessions_ordinaires/txt/2000/jun00_txts_adopted.php#P51_3072
See that link.... REALLY. What is the resolution number ?
What is the WEU ? how many nations are in it ? FIND OUT !
Then.. read Revelation Ch 17:1-14

David can you tell me any of the predictions of the Old Testament that have come to pass?

Jeff Schubert,

From my vantage point at Ground Zero of what could be an immanent and devastating nuclear attack, your reassurances ring hollow. You claim that “Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons to destroy Israel”. Ahmadinejad, who has said repeatedly that Israel should be “wiped off the map”, begs to differ.

You tell us that regimes are not suicidal. And yet, regimes have come and gone, sometimes in a flurry of avoidable violence. In many cases, we could point to decisions they made that were critical in bringing about their own demise. Decisions that, in retrospect, look suicidally foolish.

Despite what you write, the Nazi example is a good one. Hitler’s aggressions were completely unnecessary, but would have been tolerated and appeased if they were not on such a grand scale, threatening all of Europe, and ultimately, the world. And looking at how Germany expended such considerable effort to achieve genocide when the country’s resources could have been used productively in the war effort, one doesn’t get the idea that this was a rational regime. The entire Nazi program was ultimately suicidal. You claim that Hitler “only became suicidal toward the end”, but isn’t “the end” usually when people pull the trigger? No doubt if Ahmadinejad pushes the suicide button for himself and his country, this too will be “toward the end”.

You say that “the Holocaust only occurred because Hitler and various Germans thought that they could get away with it.” Indeed. And that is why it is crucial to impress upon the Ahmadinejad regime (and anyone else who harbors similar thoughts) now that they cannot and will not get away with it. How would you suggest that we do that?

As others have pointed out, given the mindset of suicide bombers, one cannot rely on rational calculation alone as a means of deterrence.

Continued...

You claim that Israel wants “power to call most of the shots”. But Israel has never threatened Iran, and does not call for it to be wiped off the map. What “shots” do we call in Teheran? If, as is reported, we have our own nuclear arsenal, how have we used it to change any Iranian policies?

Finally, some have suggested that an Iranian first strike, while accomplishing a new holocaust, would not be suicidal at all. On this, see http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1167467762531

...

johncee1945, perhaps no one told you, but Sharon split from the Likud in November 2005 and formed a governing coalition around a new center-left party that he founded, "Kadima". Soon after, he suffered a devastating stroke, and he’s been in a coma for more than a year. He is no longer the Israeli prime minister. Kadima came out on top in subsequent elections, and remains the head of the government, while the Likud sits in the opposition.

Dear Keith
refer Luk 24:44-49

But the list is endless... most are fulfilled in Christ. (Isaiah 9:6, Is 53, Pslam 22 "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me" was a fulfillment of that)

Did you actually sus out the points I raised mate ? I'd be interested in your feedback on it..

Re Israel.. Ezekiel Ch 37 and subsequent. "Valley of Dry bones"

There is a theme in the O.T. of an 'exodus' but while it did have some fullfillment with the return from Exile, it appears to have significance in connection with the last days and Christs return. There's plenty to google on it and plenty within that to sort in terms of weeds and wheat. Some speculation is plain whacky.

David

You've mentioned the possibility of only one prediction coming true yet claim the list is endless. Such generalisation leaves a lot to be desired and suggest the opposite of what you intend.

As for Christ's coming the Hebrews don't subscribe to many important aspects involved in that particular prediction. You at odds with the Hebrew religion over that point?

Sorry, but yawn. I went away for a few weeks and ignored OLO. I decided tonight to have another look. Still the same baseless arguments from those who dislike the US, and of course Israel because that country is supported by the USA. (Australia is also supported by the US but don't let facts get in the way of a good article.)

Apparently according to Jeff Schubert the holocaust is historically not relevant to the argument but Napoleon and Russia are!

No I don't like Bush or Howard either but please don't ignore history. And if children are brainwashed into believing firmly in a paradise if they do certain things even if it is suicide then sufficient number will be convinced, and brave (foolish) enough to follow.

And therein lies a problem. While classic Islam does not permit suicide or murder it has been perverted by a worryingly large group. And Iran is a strong supporter of that group. Perhaps the Iranian leadership is trying to draw its population's attention away from the mess that the theocracy has made of their lives.

And why blame the US so fervently for trying to ensure the world's oil supplies? Imagine the mass unemployment and attendant misery that would occur if oil was no longer obtainable.