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I was at Radio Blogger reading the transcript of the interview by Hugh Hewitt of Victor Davis Hanson, the subject being the 18-page letter sent to President Bush by Iranian President Ahmadinejead. Characterizing President Ahmadinejead, VDH said: [...] And the reputation of this man is that he's unhinged, that he listens to the imam in the well, that people don't blink when he speaks, because of his holy aura that hangs over him. [...] (italics mine)
So I'm thinking that I've heard this phrase before, or something that it brings immediately to mind.
Deus ex Machina In some ancient Greek drama, an apparently insoluble crisis was solved by the intervention of a god, often brought on stage by an elaborate piece of equipment. This "god from the machine" was literally a deus ex machina.
Few modern works feature deities suspended by wires from the ceiling, but the term deus ex machina is still used for cases where an author uses some improbable (and often clumsy) plot device to work his or her way out of a difficult situation. When the cavalry comes charging over the hill or when the impoverished hero is relieved by an unexpected inheritance, it's often called a deus ex machina. (Wikipedia entry here)
I realize that opinions differ as to how soon Iran will achieve nuclear weapons. My personal opinion is that it will be sooner, rather than later. But could it be that the Iranian President is relying on a Deus ex Machina episode from the 12th Imam... the Imam in the Well? Food for thought. Technorati : 12th Imam, Atomic, Deus ex Machina, Iran, Islam, Military, Muhammad al-Mahdi, Nuclear, Persia, President Ahmadinejead, President Bush, United States, War, Weapons
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