Robertson: Nuke strikes in US after the election

Christian Broadcasting Network co-founder Pat Robertson, in a new update to his Web site, states that, "we have between 75 and 120 days before the Middle East starts spinning out of control."

The 700 Club host is convinced that Israel will attack Iran's nuclear energy facilities shortly after the US presidential election, triggering a series of "dramatic events" that conclude only once "God has rained fire on the islands of the sea and on the invading force coming against Israel."

In 2005, Robertson called on the US government to assassinate Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, dismissing the murder as, "a whole lot cheaper than starting a war." And, going back further, Robertson has opined that American judges pose a greater threat than terrorists, and that Hurricane Katrina was due to legalized abortion. Robertson also hypothesized that the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 were "deserved."

As recently as February, Robertson disclosed that the 700 Club's producer uses cocaine. He then mustered a muddled explanation of how Bolivian President Evo Morales supplies his producer's personal stock.

"His off-the-wall predictions and bizarre statements tar all fundamental Christians with an extreme brush," said Rob Boston with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, in a published report. "I guess he believes he has a direct pipeline to God. Given the number of false predictions he's given, I might question who's at the other end of that pipeline."

"The Western powers have left Israel no choice but to strike Iranian nuclear facilities now," said Robertson in his latest polemic. "However, it seems to me, after consultation with Chris Mitchell (our CBN News Jerusalem Bureau Chief), that Israel will not want to commence actions against Iran until after the United States elections have taken place. In my opinion, Israel will be forced to make a preemptive strike against the Iranian nuclear reactors by air or submarine-launched cruise missiles during the brief period between the U.S. elections and the inauguration of a new U.S. president."

Another Robertson favorite: Thanks to a "miracle" health shake sold on his Web site, 78-year-old Robertson was able to leg press over 2,000 lbs. Or, so he claims.

Robertson's letter, from www.patrobertson.com, is as follows:

Dear Friend,

I am writing to you with a sense of grave urgency and a special call to prayer. Here is the situation:

Russia’s vicious dismemberment of the tiny nation of Georgia is the beginning of an unfolding sequence of Russian aggression. At present, pipelines from Siberia that run through Russia supply the majority of natural gas and oil used by Western Europe and Ukraine. A pipeline from the Caspian Sea has been bringing one million barrels a day of non-Russian oil through Georgia to Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea. Russia wants to control all of those vital pipelines.

Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is only 578 miles from Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. Russia has helped neighboring Iran build its two aggressive nuclear facilities. Georgia and Iraq are now sandwiched between the dictatorships of Russia and Iran. The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, seems to want to dominate Caspian oil and Persian Gulf oil to add to Russia’s own enormous supplies of oil and gas. If he succeeds, Russia will gain a stronghold over the economies of most of the world and can then act to bring America to its knees.

Against that backdrop, consider what is happening in Iran. That nation is under the domination of a fanatical group of Shiite Muslim clerics. The president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is a fervent believer in the Mahdi, a mythical messiah figure who, according to his belief, will come to make the entire world Muslim, but only after a period of worldwide chaos and destruction during which all the Jews will be killed.

Iran, despite warnings from the United Nations, is on an accelerated course to build nuclear facilities and an atomic bomb. The Iranians recently test fired an improved intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Shahab-3, that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads to hit Israel, Iraq, and most of Europe.

Ahmadinejad has repeatedly expressed a desire to use nuclear weapons to annihilate the nation of Israel. He has declared that the threat of nuclear retaliation from Israel against Iran does not concern him because tens of millions of Iranian deaths will merely hasten the coming of the Mahdi.

In the 1930s, Adolf Hitler made clear his diabolic plan. Early on, the Allied Powers, France and Great Britain could have stopped Hitler but they scoffed at his pretensions. In 1945, only after World War II and 50 million tragic deaths, did the free world recognize the cost of its indifference to the clear warnings from Hitler’s own speeches and published writings.

In 2008, the nation of Israel does not have the luxury of ignoring the ravings of a fanatic who soon will possess nuclear bombs with a will to use them. The Western powers want to talk and negotiate with Russia and Iran, but talk is futile. If Russia moves again to crush a neighbor or enter the Middle East, and if Iran develops an atomic bomb, time for talk will be over.

The Western powers have left Israel no choice but to strike Iranian nuclear facilities now. However, it seems to me, after consultation with Chris Mitchell (our CBN News Jerusalem Bureau Chief), that Israel will not want to commence actions against Iran until after the United States elections have taken place. In my opinion, Israel will be forced to make a preemptive strike against the Iranian nuclear reactors by air or submarine-launched cruise missiles during the brief period between the U.S. elections and the inauguration of a new U.S. president.

But here is the downside for Israel. In Lebanon, on Israel’s northern border, the radical group known as Hezbollah has, along with Iranian help, completely rearmed and now possesses as many as 40,000 rockets targeting Israel. To the south of Israel, in Gaza, another Iranian client, Hamas, is armed to the teeth and longing for an opportunity to strike Israel. Of course, any Israeli strike against the nuclear facilities of Iran will trigger a counter blow from Iran and possibly Syria. But these are not the only dangers.

Would Russia then consider hostilities (such as I have outlined) the excuse to enter the fight on trumped-up reasons in order to further its ultimate aim of controlling Middle East oil?

As the potential conflict spreads, oil terminals would be engulfed in smoke and flames. The Strait of Hormuz would be blocked, and with it 40 percent of the world’s oil. The industries of the world would face severe energy shortages and the economies of both America and the European Union would face a devastating depression.

What if the United States decided to oppose the Russian expansion? The Russians have enough long-range nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles aimed at the United States to annihilate all of our cities. Would we be willing to play a nuclear game of “chicken” with Russia to save Israel? Probably not. Would the United States risk war with Russia over Middle East oil? Perhaps, but unlikely. If we act, it will be ugly. If we don’t act, our economy could either be crippled or faced with continually escalating exactions demanded by Russia for oil.

About 2600 years ago, God gave the Prophet Ezekiel a description of an invasion of Israel after the Jews had been regathered to the Promised Land from all over the world in the “latter days.” Ezekiel wrote of an invasion force led by Russia that would include Iran and “Cush,” which is Sudan. The other parties described by Ezekiel that constituted the invading force could include some of the Muslim nations in the former Soviet Caucasus region and possibly Turkey. According to Ezekiel 38:12, they would come seeking “plunder and loot.” What greater plunder than the oil riches of the Persian Gulf?

Will this unfold all at once? It’s difficult to say. But what is clear is this: The Israeli strike against Iran will be the trigger. From then on, dramatic events will follow in quick succession. It all will conclude when God has rained fire on the islands of the sea and on the invading force coming against Israel.

Where will the United States be in all of this conflict? According to Ezekiel, the “young lions of Tarshish” will be questioning the Russians about their aggression – questioning, but not acting to stop it. Who are these “young lions of Tarshish?” Tarshish was the region beyond Cadiz in Spain. In antiquity, explorers from Tarshish came to Ireland, then across the ocean to North America, traveling the Mississippi River as far as the present-day site of Davenport, Iowa.

I believe the term “young lions of Tarshish” refers to England and the United States of America. According to Ezekiel, when the Middle East trouble begins, the young lions of Tarshish will warn Russia and Iran, but refuse to act. We will suffer grave economic damage, but will not engage in military action to stop the conflict. However, we may not be spared nuclear strikes against coastal cities.

In conclusion, it is my opinion that we have between 75 and 120 days before the Middle East starts spinning out of control. If there was ever a time for fervent prayer, it is now. Prayer can change the course of history! The Bible says, “Seek righteousness, seek humility. … that you may be hid in the day of the Lord’s wrath.” “… the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

The believing prayers of tens of thousands of God’s people can change the hearts of the leaders of Russia and Iran. God can cause situations to arise which will save Israel. He is Almighty. With God all things are possible!

With that in mind, I urge you to fervently seek God’s intervention in the following areas:

Pray that God’s mighty angels would surround and protect our nation in these perilous times;
Pray for unity among the body of Christ as we intercede for our nation and our world;
Pray that America’s leadership will seek godly wisdom as they face critical events in the weeks and months ahead;
Pray for the Holy Spirit to sweep across the globe, preparing hearts to accept Jesus and enter God’s Kingdom before tragic events unfold;
Pray for God to change the hearts of leaders in Russia, Iran, and other nations who wish to do harm to Israel.

Hopefully, our Lord will intervene and head off the disaster that seems to be approaching. Let us pray together. With God all things are possible!
God bless you. I remain .. (rawstory, 10.02.2008, Stephen C. Webster)
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Robertson_Nuke_strikes_in_US_after_1002.html