During Dr. Mike Evans research for this book in Israel in late 2009, he was told by a high-level Israeli government official that should Iran achieve its nuclear ambitions, it would then have a nuclear umbrella which would allow it to accelerate terrorism throughout the Sunni Gulf oil states in an attempt to fulfill its vision of a world caliphate. An ensuing multi-trillion dollar nuclear arms race between the Sunni and Shia states in the region would drive the price of oil to never-before-seen levels for decades to come. The estimate given him was that oil prices could go as high as $200 per barrel. This would further decimate the world economy. With the ascension of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the position of power in Iran, much has been said about the Mahdi. Al-Mahdi was the Twelfth Imam in the line of Ali, who disappeared down a well at the age of five. Refusing to believe that he was dead, his followers imbued him with timelessness. They declared him to be merely hidden, or in a state of occultation, and declared that on some future date he would suddenly reappear to reestablish an Islamic caliphate worldwide. The Twelver's eschatology, however, proved problematic; it espoused an apocalyptic upheaval in order for the Mahdi, or Hidden Imam, to ascend to his rightful place of leadership. These Twelvers championed the tenet that every individual, regardless of his religious belief, would one day bow to Islam or die. In Ahmadinejad's mind, an atomic bomb in Tel Aviv would usher in the Mahdi, and all the world's demise (Jews and Christians) would instantly be converted to Islam. Compared to Ahmadinejad and his Twlever band, al-Qaeda resembles Boy Scouts ushering little old ladies across busy streets. What does the world really think of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Twelver beliefs? Are most people aware of his devotion to the Mahdi? Do most understand that he is an ardent Twelver, a dedicated disciple of the Twelfth Imam, who will do anything to insure that the world is made ready for the second coming of a false messiah even if it requires manufacturing his own apocalyptic event to insure a rush to Armageddon? When Dr. Evans met Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's spiritual advisor in New York City for a UN meeting in 2007, he declared that his leader would usher in the Mahdi the twelfth descendant of Mohammad through such an apocalyptic event within three years. President Obama seems incapable of fully accepting his culpability should he pursue talks with Iran's bloody regime. He was given a legitimate chance to support change for the good of the Iranian populace following the June, 2009 Iranian election. He had an opportunity to respond vigorously, yet he failed to do so in a timely manner. America's forty-fourth president has all but acquiesced to Iran's nuclear course. Even during the election process Mr. Obama signified that he was agreeable to a meeting with the regime: I would [talk to Iran's leaders without preconditions]. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this [Bush] administration -- is ridiculous. The Iranians saw this as weakness on the part of the American presidential candidate. Since taking office, Mr. Obama has done nothing to counter that opinion. Ahmadinejad has declared the issue closed, not worthy of talks with the leader of The Great Satan. He has rebuffed the advances of a man who apparently wants to dance with Iran. Ahmadinejad feels he is in the driver's seat, and unless a backbone transplant is in the offing, Mr. Obama will likely acquiesce to whatever terms Ahmadinejad demands prior to any face-to-face talks with the American president. The countdown to Armageddon has begun.
BIOGRAPHY
Michael David Evans is an award-winning journalist, has appeared on hundreds of network television and radio shows including Good Morning, America, Cross Fire, Nightline, The Good Morning Show (Great Britain), and appears frequently on the Fox Network, CNN World News, NBC, ABC, and CBS. He is one of the most in-demand analysts on the subject of the Middle East.
Dr. Evans' 2008 bestseller was Jimmy Carter: The Liberal Left and World Chaos. It was followed in 2009 by Atomic Iran, Countdown to Armageddon, and in 2010, Dr. Evans entered the field of fiction with the thriller, GameChanger. His book The Final Move beyond Iraq debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestsellers list in May 2007. It contained interviews with former CIA director James Woolsey, Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz, General Hugh Shelton, Mort Zuckerman, owner, U.S. News and World Report, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a host of others.
Dr. Evans' book, Showdown with Nuclear Iran became a New York Times and Amazon.com bestseller. He is also the author of 30 books including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, USA Today, Amazon #1, and Barnes and Noble.com #1 bestseller, The American Prophecies, and the New York Times bestseller, Beyond Iraq: The Next Move.
Mike Evans has won more than fifteen national awards for his prime time specials based on his books. Evans is an award-winning producer, having produced eighteen documentaries on Israel. His most famous special "Let My People Go!" spotlighted Natan Sharansky, who was at the time in a gulag in Russia. Dr. Evans asked President Ronald Reagan to seek Mr. Sharansky's release, and the release of some 400 Jewish prisoners from President Mikhail Gorbachev. Dr. Evans also worked with a Dutch government official to encourage the opening of the doors of the Dutch Embassy in Moscow to the Jews of Russia.
Dr. Evans has met with over 52 leaders of nations, (including foreign ministers, ambassadors, prime ministers and kings). He has worked closely with Israel's prime ministers for almost three decades. As an advisor to Prime Minister Begin, he recommended Benjamin Netanyahu for his first government post. His recommendation followed a meeting with the future prime minister after his brother, Jonathan, had been shot in the back while leading the raid on Entebbe in Uganda. Benjamin Netanyahu is now serving his second term as prime minister of Israel.
Dr. Evans is a member of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He has officially represented the evangelical broadcasting community in the United States for more than two decades covering strategic events throughout the world, such as the Middle East Peace Conference in Madrid and at the 43rd General Assembly of the United Nations specially convened session in Geneva. He also covered the International UN Conference on Afghanistan in The Hague, Netherlands, and the UN Durban Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
