Nostradamus on Afghanistan and Iraq—A Tale of Two Quagmires
Report Topics:
- Prophetic warnings that the two wars now being fought by American forces are going to cause further problems
Full Report:
President Obama has announced that our military mission in Iraq will end on August 31, 2010, and that most U.S. forces will be out by the end of 2011. In the meantime, he will be increasing our troop strength in Afghanistan in order to bring stability to that remote country, and continue to use it as a base for hunting down Osama bin Laden, who remains hidden somewhere in neighboring northern Pakistan. This summer 17,000 more troops leave for Afghanistan.
Looking at the relevant prophecies about both unfolding conflicts by the sixteenth century French seer Nostradamus, we find that no matter what America will try to do in either location, the potentiality exists that we will face more intense and protracted violence yet to come.
In Afghanistan, American and NATO forces are in danger of fighting a Vietnam-like war that could get bogged down for years no matter how many troops and supplies we pour into the conflict. The Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents are increasingly better trained and better equipped by several Islamic bordering nations, including Iran. Their relentless hit-and-run tactics, accompanied by strategic strikes against the strongholds of the weak Afghan government and occupying forces, are becoming effective in securing large portions of the countryside surrounding the capital, Kabul. The goal is to steadily wear down all foreign invaders and topple Kabul through long resistance. The Taliban succeeded in driving out the Russians and taking control three decades ago, and are confident that, given time and pressure, they can do it again.
Nostradamus offered three verses which may give clues concerning insurgent offenses in Afghanistan in the near future:
The struggle made by those who lead their pack horses,
Many will come (the Russians in 1979, the Americans in 2001, NATO forces in 2006) to proclaim the great crescent (the Islamic resistance, the Taliban) destroyed,
But they will continue to kill, attacking by night, moving through the mountains, dressed in shepherds’ garb,
Hidden reds (Arabs) will cause gullies of blood in the deep valleys. Century VII, Quatrain 7
A captain will come like one leading a flock (dressed in the robes of shepherds),
From out of the mountains, closer to their enemy,
Suddenly surrounding them by fire he will cut a path through,
All escaped except thirty roasted to death. Century VII, Quatrain 28
The cruel conspirators wearing long robes,
Sharp weapons concealed underneath,
Their leader shall take the place of flowers (poppies?), in the double-worded place (?),
Discovered by young soldiers talking to each other (by radio?). Century X, Quatrain 33
Meanwhile, our very costly war in Iraq has expended thousands of American and Iraqi lives, as well as having had a price tag in the hundreds of billions of dollars for both countries. The two have finally agreed upon an exit strategy whereby the vast majority of deployed U.S. troops now have a departure schedule. The tricky part is going to be how the draw-down will proceed without accelerating the present Iraqi government’s disintegration.
Five of Nostradamus’ poems hint at the dire situation the nation of Iraq and our troops may be in for while we are in the process of leaving:
Babylon (modern Iraq) shall become a place of opposites (constant infighting, civil war),
Great will be the outpouring of blood,
In the land and sea, air and sky, everywhere will be grave injustice (wickedness, unfairness, criminal behavior),
Sects (religious factions) and divisions between kingdoms (involving foreign nations) will cause famine, disease and confusion. Century I, Quatrain 55
To the enemy promises made, which they will have faith in,
Will not be kept, their prisoners will not be released (Guantanamo?),
Their Leader (Saddam) hiding nearby, captured, put to death, the remainder (of his followers) stripped down to their shirts,
The rest (who shared any power) will be damned for having supported him. Century X, Quatrain 1
A great band made up of many divisions of crusaders (from Christendom; Europe and America),
Will be heavily deployed throughout Mesopotamia (Iraq),
(Opposed) by a smaller company of soldiers situated across the river (Muqtada al-Sadr’s forces in eastern Baghdad),
They will not put up with the laws imposed by the enemy. Century III, Quatrain 61
They will find themselves cut off, barricaded between the two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates, Baghdad to be totally isolated from the rest of the country),
Casks and barrels piled together to pass beyond (supplies airlifted and trucked in),
The eight bridges (the number which presently cross the river) all broken, destroyed, the chief of the government assassinated,
Young children will have their throats cut in vengeful murder. Century VIII, Quatrain 55
The Sun (Christendom, European forces including Britain) and the Eagle (Aquila, the Northern Eagle, America) will be victors in name only,
The vanquished (Iraqi people) reassured (of rebuilding) only with a vain reply (false promises unfulfilled),
Neither by military action or demands (by the occupiers) will they (the Iraqi insurgents) stop arming themselves,
By revenge killings and deaths peace will come right on schedule (troop withdrawal time-tables will be met). Century I, Quatrain 38
Despite all our efforts and the expenditure of time and resources to defeat Saddam Hussein and leave Iraq with a new democratic government, the French seer warned that another dictator may rise who will do far worse, against whom America and Europe may have to fight once more in six or ten years. Here are Nostradamus’ prophecies comparing today’s present and future events:
One will come who will be villainous, wicked, infamous,
A tyrant over all Mesopotamia (modern Iraq),
Dam (Saddam Hussein or his successor?) will violate his neighbors,
Because of him the land turned black in its appearance (oil fields burning in 1990, in 2003, and yet again in the future?). Century VIII, Quatrain 70
An Arab Leader of the Middle East will arise when Mars, the Sun and Venus are in Leo (next occurrences will be in August, 2015 and July–August, 2019),
Regions of the Church (Europe) will fail at sea (to contain him by economic sanctions or blockade),
Towards (or from) Persia (Iran) very nearly a million men (will march),
The true serpent will attack Turkey and Egypt (the two most Westernized Islamic neighbors). Century V, Quatrain 25
Like a griffon (symbolizing land, air and sea forces) will come the Leader of Europe (EU),
Accompanied by those of Aquilon (the Northern Eagle, America),
Of reds (other Arab nations) and whites (other European nations) they will lead a great army (coalition of forces, partially fulfilled in 1990 and 2003; to be assembled again in the future?),
And they will go against the Leader of Babylon (the next Middle Eastern tyrant). Century X, Quatrain 86
Tragically, this time around the future Iraqi dictator will learn from the mistakes of his predecessors, and will become powerful enough to threaten Israel. Two quatrains of Nostradamus offer these forebodings:
The Synagogue (Jerusalem Temple) shall remain empty and not built,
Even after it is received back from the infidels (Muslims, in 1967),
From Babylon (Iraq) she will be attacked again,
Sad and miserable because her wings will be clipped (Israeli air force destroyed?). Century VIII, Quatrain 96
Alus (Saul, Israel) will wait to the last moment to bloody his hands,
He will be unable to protect himself by sea,
Coming from between the two rivers (Mesopotamia, Iraq) he will fear their military actions,
The angry Leader will make him wish for different results. Century VI, Quatrain 33
Looking at all the regional conflicts going on, we may well ask, when will all this fighting stop? Which also brings us to the better question, when will all fighting stop everywhere, so that there will be no more wars in the entire world?
The answer is simple enough—when humanity itself gets tired and chooses to defy its world leaders and military powers, refusing to fight anymore and deciding to solve its disputes in international courts and debates instead. Here is what Nostradamus had to say about a possible alternate future that could happen right now if we collectively chose to fulfill it:
Before long all things will be set into a different order,
The new century and millennium (dawning of the twenty-first century) could see a window (a new dimension of opportunity) opening,
Those who hold to the old ways and hide behind masks of lofty power will be utterly changed,
Few will be found who shall remain in leadership. Century II, Quatrain 10
Many of the common people will want to come to terms in agreement,
With their great lords (world leaders) who wish to bring the threat of war upon them,
The people, finally tired of their words, will no longer want to hear anything more they have to say,
Alas, only in this way - when humanity begins to lead for themselves instead of following others—will God send peace to the Earth. Century VIII, Quatrain 4, Duplicate
That which destruction and weapons of war could not accomplish,
Nor the diplomatic tongue in endless meetings could ever achieve—the advent of true world peace,
Instead in sleep, in a dream, the Leader will be reached by those who meditate,
He will come to realize that the true enemy of humanity is destructive war itself and the spilling of blood. Century I, Quatrain 97
A New Peace is possible, places built without defense of war,
Uninhabitable regions settled and developed again,
Abandoned acreage, houses, fields, towns occupied at will,
After a long age of famine, disease and war (our world today), the land shall be returned to cultivation. Century II, Quatrain 19
There can be Peace, a Union, and changes,
Estates, offices of power done away with, the old world upside down,
For the first generation, painful readjustments to the new ways of doing things,
Wars will cease, conflicts settled by civil processes and debates. Century IX, Quatrain 66
Many countries, towns, cities, realms and provinces which will have abandoned their old customs to gain freedom without responsibility, will discover themselves enslaved even worse, and will secretly tire of their delusion of freedom. Looking here and there, they shall search for faith lost and return to a more perfect religion (re-ligio, inter-connectedness). They will wish to restore the concepts of the holiness of all things, for a long time forgotten, and be in harmony only with the original sacred writings. Epistle to Henri II
For some the transformations toward peace will be very difficult,
The common people of cities and provinces will gain by the changes,
Their hearts held high to heaven, prudent leaders established, the old cunning politicians out of power,
The relationship between humanity and land and sea will enter into a new harmonious state. Century IV, Quatrain 21
Armies and their generals will be driven away, never to fight again,
The idle soldiers will be put to hard work planting fields in the countryside,
Towns and cities will settle differences through debate instead,
Hearts will be heavy because of so many blackened carcasses (those who died because of past wars). Century I, Quatrain 5
That which has always been deeply desired will finally be made manifest,
There shall be reconnection, peace, love and concord everywhere,
The wedding song of harmony will not be sung by everyone,
High officials brought low, some high ones put to death because of their crimes. Presage 67
[Copyright 2009. Joseph Robert Jochmans. All Rights Reserved.]
