Israel vs. Iran

THE WAR between Israel and Iran is just over a week old—but not really. This is a continuation of what began October 7, 2023, which in turn is a continuation of a low-grade conflict that’s gone on for decades.

Iran was the primary source of financial, technical, and military support for Hezbollah and Hamas, which have been responsible for attacks inside Israel since the 1980s in the case of Hezbollah, and since the mid-2000s in the case of Hamas. The attack on October 7, 2023 was the final straw for the conservative government in Israel, which is determined to put an end to the threat to its citizens.

Was Iran close to developing a nuclear weapon? No one has said so publicly, although the Israeli government and conservative talk show hosts in the US have made that claim for more than 20 years. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency recently assessed that Iran had enough uranium refined to 60% purity to produce ten weapons (note: 90% purity is required) and that Iran was preventing IAEA inspectors from accessing areas they needed to see. Not surprisingly, media accounts of the IAEA report ranged from “Iran close to developing nuclear weapons” to “No evidence Iran is developing nuclear weapons.”

At the end of the day, the theocratic government of Iran, run by men in their 70s and 80s who may see this as their last, best chance to see the Mahdi in the flesh, cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, and—sadly—their religious worldview prevents them from reaching a negotiated settlement.

For a good overview of Islamic history, theology, and eschatology, we recommend the work of scholars Raymond Ibrahim and Dr. Timothy Furnish, both of whom Derek cited in his book Bad Moon Rising.

Also: We revisit Roko’s Basilisk, a thought experiment that highlights the danger of autonomous artificial super-intelligence.

Our new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible!

Derek’s new book Destination: Earth, co-authored with Donna Howell and Allie Anderson, is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible!

Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah.

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