As I noted previously, the letter echos the kind of missives that might have been sent in the Middle Ages, by a caliph asking for surrender of a city he is besieging. Ahmadinejad tells Bush that his sinful ways are doomed, and bids him abandon liberal democracy and turn to religion.

The significance of this traditional Muslim theme, which may sit well with Islamists, has been noted by others. Iranian Amil Imani writes:

...

No sooner did President Ahmadinejad emerge from obscurity and assumed his new role as the head of the Executive Branch of the Islamic regime in Iran than he unleashed a torrent of venomous rhetoric against the United States and Israel.

He ... threatened Muslim leaders with consequences if they appeased Israel, "Any leader in the Islamic umma (community) who recognizes Israel faces the wrath of his own people."

His hateful rhetoric aside, President Ahmadinejad has reported on events that are terribly strange, to say the least: Behaviors and statements that raise serious questions about his mental state. During his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September of 2005, for instance, he claimed to have been enveloped by a light that made the entire audience focused on him for the duration without anyone blinking.

More recently, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah was unable to move away, because of the strength of force emanated from Iran's president, so he contends. President Ahmadinejad's repeated claims to his special connection with the supernatural forces, specifically those of the Shiite theology, need to be scrutinized with added concern.

Most recently, President Ahmadinejad has baffled the world by his 18-page letter addressed to President George W Bush. Lay people and experts alike are at a loss in their attempt to understand and decipher the significance, if any, of the letter -- a hodgepodge of religious, philosophical, historical and victimization phraseology that seem to bear very little relation to the present difficulties confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran on one side and the United States of America and much of the free world on the other.

The enigma is not hidden in the letter. It’s in the act of writing it. The mere sending of the letter--to the most powerful man on earth (President Bush) has epochal historical precedence.

In my view, President Ahmadinejad’s letter can be better understood when examined within his frame of mind and system of belief. The letter constitutes another exercise in a series of summons, invitations or ultimatums from a person who considers himself a spokesman for Islam to a wayward ruler...in this instance President Bush.

This approach dates back to Prophet Muhammad himself who first called upon the infidels to embrace his faith or face his violent wrath. President Ahmadinejad believes he is doing what the Prophet Mohammad commands him to do. He also revered point of emulation, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, also addressed a similar letter to another infidel, contemporary ruler, of his time; the former Secretary General of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. Khomeini suggested that Gorbachev embrace Islam.

The founder of Islam Muhammad has ordained; "Invite them to embrace Islam. If they refuse, then war upon them." Employing this practice, Islam subdued Persia and other parts of the world by the force of the sword. Perhaps Iran’s new presidential letter to President Bush follows the same strategy where he challenges him and the people of the United States to renounce the Christian faith and attain salvation by embracing Islam. "Will you not accept this invitation?" asks President Ahmadinejad in the letter.
...

It is said nearly 1,400 years ago that Umar Ibn Al Khattab, the second of four Islamic Caliphs sent a letter to King Yazdgird III of Persia to commit Bei'at (Joining with caliph and accepting Islam.) Umar wrote, "Once upon a time your land ruled half the known world but what has it come down to now? Your troops are defeated on all fronts and your nation is bound to collapse. I offer you a way to rescue yourself. Start praying to Allah, a single union God, the only God who created everything in the universe. We bring you and the world his message. Worship, Allah the only true God."

If we replace King Yazdgird III, with President Bush, Persia with the United States, and Persians with United States citizens, and the signature of Umar with Ahmadinejad, the new president of the Islamic Republic, the outcome could look horrific.

In the New York Times, Elaine Sciolino, notes a more recent historic parallel: The letter of the Ayatollah Khomeini to Mikhail Gorbachev. She compares the two letters section by section, and shows remarkable similarities. In particular, the last sections:

KHOMEINI Mr. Gorbachev: Let me call on you to study Islam earnestly, not because Islam and the Muslims may need you but because Islam has exalted universal values which can bring comfort and salvation to all nations and remove the basic problems of mankind. A true understanding of Islam may forever release you from the problem of Afghanistan and other similar involvements. In conclusion, I declare outright that the Islamic Republic of Iran as the greatest and most powerful base of the Islamic world can easily fill the vacuum of religious faith in your society. In any case, our country, as in the past, honors good neighborhood and bilateral relations.

This should be compared with Ahmadinejad's closing:

Liberalism and Western-style democracy have not been able to help realize the ideals of humanity. Today these two concepts have failed. Those with insight can already hear the sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the Liberal democratic systems.

We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking towards a main focal point -- that is the Almighty God. Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teachings of the prophets, the people will conquer their problems. My question for you is: "Do you not want to join them?"

Mr. President,

Whether we like it or not, the world is gravitating toward faith in the Almighty, and justice and the will of God will prevail over all things.

These parallels are far from perfect. Ahmadinejad was careful in the letter never to insist on conversion to Islam for Bush, but rather on "return" to the Christian faith and the ways of Jesus, as interpreted by Ahmadinejad. Nonetheless, given the fate of Gorbachev and the USSR, and the obvious parallels between the letters, it is very tempting to conclude that Ahmadinejad wanted us to think of Khomeini's letter, as well as similar letters sent by Muhamad and by Umar.

Ahmadinejad also mentioned the demise of the USSR in his "World Without America and Zionism" speech. He noted that Khomeini predicted the end of the USSR and the end of Saddam Hussein, and he drew a parallel to Israel, and an implicit parallel to the USA:

"'That day, when Imam [Khomeini] began his movement, all the powers supported [the Shah's] corrupt regime. and said it was not possible. However, our nation stood firm, and by now we have, for 27 years, been living without a government dependent on America. Imam [Khomeni] said: 'The rule of the East [U.S.S.R.] and of the West [U.S.] should be ended.' But the weak people who saw only the tiny world near them did not believe it.

"'Nobody believed that we would one day witness the collapse of the Eastern Imperialism [i.e. the U.S.S.R], and said it was an iron regime. But in our short lifetime we have witnessed how this regime collapsed in such a way that we must look for it in libraries, and we can find no literature about it.

"'Imam [Khomeini] said that Saddam [Hussein] must go, and that he would be humiliated in a way that was unprecedented. And what do you see today? A man who, 10 years ago, spoke as proudly as if he would live for eternity is today chained by the feet, and is now being tried in his own country...

"'Imam [Khomeini] said: 'This regime that is occupying Qods [Jerusalem] must be eliminated from the pages of history.' This sentence is very wise. The issue of Palestine is not an issue on which we can compromise.

It is important to note that Iran does not claim a direct role in the breakup of the USSR or the ousting of Saddam Hussein. Ahmadinejad is only pointing out, from his point of view, that the Imam Khomeini foresaw the end of these regimes, and the end of the U.S. and Israel. Apparently, he is hinting that this will be accomplished because it is the will of God. It is not clear how much Ahmadinejad feels he must be the agent of God.

Is it just the expression of an individual? Hardly likely, since the Supreme Council and Ayatollah Khameinei would never have let him send this letter without their consent.

Is it a show for the masses? Is it an act of faith by a fanatic who claims a special relation with the hidden Imam?

Ami Isseroff

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