Pastor Hagee Speaks Out on the Iranian Nuclear Threat
by Allie Martin
February 1, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The pastor of one of the largest churches in the U.S. says radical Islam and Israel cannot dwell together in peace -- and that Christians must support the nation of Israel. In his newest book Jerusalem Countdown, John Hagee -- pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio -- says biblical prophecy is playing itself out daily in the Middle East. Hagee says Iran's new president, coupled with last week's victory by terrorist-backed Hamas in the Palestinian elections, paves the way for an impending war in the region.
In that light, he says Israel and the United States must not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. The Texas pastor explains why he feels that way.
"This madman, the president of Iran, has said to the international world media that he will share these nuclear weapons with other fanatical Islamics," Hagee states. "Therefore these nuclear suitcase bombs that the media refers to as 'dirty bombs' can be exploded in America's cities with the potential of killing a million or a million-and-a-half people every time a bomb goes off. It would be devastating to the United States."
During his State of the Union address last night, President George W. Bush stated that "the nations of the world must not permit the Iranian regime to gain nuclear weapons." Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has since lashed back, stating that his country would continue with its nuclear program despite the efforts of "bully countries," as he called them, to bring that process to a halt. Associated Press reports that the International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council as soon as tomorrow (February 2).
But Hagee is convinced that any threat of sanctions against Iran by the Security Council will have no effect. "That's a joke," he says bluntly. "The U.N. Security Council has Russia and China sitting across the table from Iran. Russia is the one that caused this nuclear problem. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has had his scientists down in Iran for years working for their missile systems."
Putin, he argues, is no friend to the United States. In fact, Hagee predicts the Russian leader will eventually turn against the U.S. and align with Islamic nations in a conflict against Israel.
Hagee made his comments during a recent interview on American Family Radio.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
