Apocalypse

I don't think I have to say much more than to just give this quote by Ian McEwan regarding President Ahmadinejad of Iran:

" In Jamkaran, a village not far from the holy city of Qum, a small mosque is undergoing a $20m-expansion, driven forward by Ahmadinejad's office. Within the Shi'ite apocalyptic tradition, the Twelfth Imam, the Mahdi, who disappeared in the ninth century, is expected to reappear in a well behind the mosque. His re-emergence will signify the beginning of the end days. He will lead the battle against the Dajjal, the Islamic version of the anti-Christ, and with Jesus as his follower, will establish the global Dar el Salaam, the dominion of peace, under Islam. Ahmadinejad is extending the mosque to receive the Mahdi, and already pilgrims by the thousands are visiting the shrine, for the president has reportedly told his cabinet that he expects the visitation within two years."

Oh, . . . Barack Obama thinks we can reason with this person. Which should actually tell you something both about Obama's judgment, and his own level of theological belief (none). I say "none," because if Obama did actually believe in God, he would have some sort of understanding of President Ahmadinejad's beliefs -- and some understanding of whether or not one can reason with him in the way Obama thinks is possible.