"Woe unto you"

One more post for tonight--alert via Drudge.

So, Iran's President is praying for the death of Ariel Sharon. Not surprising.

"Hopefully, the news that the criminal of Sabra and Chatilla has joined his ancestors is final," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the semiofficial Iranian Students News Agency.

How does one get to be a semi-official news agency?

And the Rev. Robertson has figured out why Sharon had his stroke
.

US evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for "dividing God's land" of Israel, igniting his latest trademark controversy.

As the Israeli prime minister battled for life, Robertson seemed to suggest to viewers on his "700 Club" television show that Sharon was being punished for his policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

"The prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who, quote, 'divide my land.' God considers this land to be his.

"You read the Bible, he says, 'This is my land.' And for any prime minister of Israel who decides he's going carve it up and give it away, God says, 'No. This is mine.'"

Robertson, who frequently provokes outrage with his remarks, said he was "sad" to see Sharon fall sick, and that he was a "very likeable person."

"I prayed with him personally. But here he is at the point of death. He was dividing God's land, and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU, the United Nations or the United States of America."

"God said, 'This land belongs to me, you better leave it alone.'"

Robertson also appeared to suggest former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, murdered in 1995, had also paid the ultimate price for talking peace.

"He was tragically assassinated, and it was terrible thing that happened, but nevertheless, he was dead."

(Accuracy note: The quotes are real. Everything--even the "woe unto..." They come from 9 minutes through 10 minutes 20 seconds into the 700 Club broadcast for 1-5-06, available here for the next 15 days.)

Yes, Pat, these "terrible things" happen in your world where God is a gangster dealing out vengeance, and strokes comes from political decisions, rather than from a few to many latkes.

God can take care of His people without Woodie Guthrie lyrics. And without your heresy.