Iran presents a real threat to the welfare of the United states and the world

I believe Iran presents a true threat to the welfare of the united states and in fact the world. The reasons i present to support this statement are: 1. Nuclear Capability 2. Terrorist Funds 3. Religion 1. While there was a report that said Iran stopped pursuing nuclear weapons in 2003, there are other reports (notice it's plural) from both the US and Israel and more, that estimate Iran will have the capability to produce Nuclear Weapons (NWs) ranging from as early as 2009 to almost 2020. So i would like to see more reports that truly establish that Iran does not threaten us in the sense of creating NWs. There is more information to support the possibility that Iran IS building NWs. But then also, Iran's nuclear programs, supposedly for civilian power, are under the control of MILITARY officials. Is that a little strange, or is that just me? Iran has acquired and developed nuclear technology, directly violating treaties and commitments made to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Add that to statements calling for the destruction of Israel and such, claims to peaceful intentions become. much more suspect 2. Iran is known as well as Syria to fund and aid terrorist organizations. while it is true that we cannot prevent all funds going to terrorist organizations from reaching their destination, and that we cannot eliminate all the terrorist groups, we CAN prevent a large part of the organizations that present a threat to the US. Iran funds many of these groups, as well as warring Shiite groups in Iraq so that the new Iraqi government might lend them an advantage (Iran is a Shiite state). Worse is the fact that this money may come from oil revenue from the US, so we could virtually be funding our own enemies. 3. In order to understand some of Iran's (as well as much of Islamic groups') actions, we have to look at their religion, Islam, specifically shia Islam, more in depth. Shia and Sunni were distinctions that did not always exist. That difference goes back to the so-called 12th Imam, or The Mahdi, or the Hidden Imam. An Imam is an anointed leader or ruler said to be anointed by Allah. They may also be a prayer leader, cleric, or prophet. The story goes something like this: the 11th Imam died without any proven successor. There was much squabble about who would be the next Imam until a 9 year-old boy arose claiming to be the 12th Imam. There was even more chaos and scuffles surrounding the heir and the 9 year-old boy went into hiding in 941 AD. The people split into Shiite and Sunni groups. Sunnis believe in a different line of succession and that the 9 year-old boy (named Abu al-Qasim Muhammad or Muhammad al Mahdi) was an impostor. Shiites believe that al-Mahdi is the true 12th Imam and that he will come again. The catch to that belief? They say teh Mahdi will come in a time of extreme chaos and subjugation, in a time of tyranny and oppression. "According to the Hadith the criteria for the Hidden Imam are: * He will be a descendant of Muhammad and the son of Fatima * Will have a broad forehead and pointed nose * Will return just before the end of the world * His appearance will be preceded by a number of prophetic events during 3 years of horrendous world chaos, tyranny and oppression * Will escape from Madina to Mekkah, thousands will pledge allegiance to him * Will rule over the Arabs and the world for 7 years * Will eradicate all tyranny and oppression bringing harmony and total peace * Will lead a prayer in Mekkah which Jesus will be at his side and follow in." - http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org... Many groups have dedicated themselves to preparing the world for the Mahdi's coming. Ahmadinejad has said multiple times (in almost every major speech he gives) that he will prepare the way for the Mahdi, that Allah actually directed him to do this. "Our revolution's main mission is to pave the way for the reappearance of the 12th Imam, the Mahdi," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to prayer leaders across his country. "Therefore, Iran should become a powerful, developed and model Islamic society." "Today, we should define our economic, cultural and political policies based on the policy of Imam Mahdi's return. We should avoid copying the West's policies and systems," he said. Even in a speech to the UN general assembly he made referances and spoke at length about this 12th Imam, confusing many delegates and pissing off Sunni delegates. So the goal of Iran under Ahmadinejad AND THE COUNCIL is to prepare the way for a second coming of the Mahdi by creating chaos and terror. So for those three reasons presented, that Iran may be or will be pursuing nuclear weapons that Iran funds and aids terrorist groups that declare jihad against America and that Iran is dedicated to cause chaos in order to bring about a second coming of sorts, I believe that Iran presents a direct and imminent threat to the United States and the world as a whole.