[Beck:] Washington`s been waiting for progress on Iraq. Today they got some news on progress. Today, they got some news on progress. General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander over there, told Congress that security gains were, quote, "fragile and reversible." Despite the improvements, the job ain`t close to over. And all three presidential candidates had some time to meet with the general today to ask him all kinds of questions, and quite honestly, between you and me, that`s why I haven`t been watching. With all the Washington weasels involved, I mean, this is political showboating. We`re not really getting any answers. You didn`t think we would, did you? You can`t stay sheltered in the District of Colombia, you know, make a bunch of speeches on the campaign trail, and then expect to know what it`s like for American troops on the ground, let alone for the Iraqi people. So, that`s why I stopped listening to Washington. I start listening to the surveys over from Iraq. Almost twice as many Iraqis now feel it was absolutely right for the U.S. to invade Iraq, as it did in August of last year. That`s a good thing. I don`t know why that`s not on the well, sorry, I do know why that`s not on the front page of "The New York Times." Now things aren`t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. The general did have some bad news and, as always, the bad news starts with Iran.
[General David Petraeus, Commander, Multinational Forces In Iraq:] Iran has fueled the violence, as I noted, in a particularly damaging way through its lethal support to the special groups.
[Beck:] OK. But here`s where it gets worse. Earlier today on The Drudge Report I saw a story that Ahmadinejad has announced that he`s installing 6,000 new advanced centrifuges at his leading nuclear facility. For some reason, it seemed like those those really tersely written letters from the U.N., not working. Joel Rosenberg is the founder of the Joshua Fund and author of a great new book I just finished about a week ago, "Dead Heat." Hello, Joe. How are you, sir?
[Joel Rosenberg, Author, "dead Heat":] I`m doing well, Glenn. How are you?
[Beck:] I`m good. I want to talk to you a little bit about, first, the centrifuges over in Iran. Is this more bluster from him? Because I should have started with this. Happy National Nuclear Day. That`s what it is in Iran. Is this just more bluster from him today?
[Rosenberg:] I don`t think so. I think Iran is the most dangerous nation on the face of the planet right now. I think it`s the epicenter of evil. And I think that what you`ve got is a situation in which Iran is actually feverishly trying to build, buy or steal the nuclear weapons it needs to accomplish two objectives: to annihilate Israel, whom he calls the Little Satan, and to annihilate the United States, whom Ahmadinejad calls the Great Satan. I`m in Jerusalem with 2,000 Christian leaders and we`re having a conference on epicenter. What are the dangers of this country, Israel faces? I think it`s existential. I think Iran is the most dangerous country on the planet, and its danger is getting worse. And I don`t think Washington fully gets it.
[Beck:] Well, I don`t think you know, Joel, you and I talked about a year ago on this very issue. And I have to tell you, I think there are those in Washington that do get it. But I don`t think they have any power to do anything anymore. I mean, at the time, I thought that George Bush was going to take action against Iran before he left office. I no longer think that`s true. Because I don`t think he has the political clout to be able to pull it off, especially with that report that came out last year. But that leaves that in the hands of Israel, and they will do something.
[Rosenberg:] I don`t know if they will, actually. I agree that the window of opportunity for the United States to take military action against Iran`s nuclear facility is rapidly closing. I mean, it`s almost inconceivable right now to imagine the United States launching a preemptive war against Iran in the middle of a presidential campaign. And then, of course, you`ll have a new administration. Who knows where that will go? Israel, I don`t think that they`re I don`t think they will never say it. But I don`t think they`re capable of launching a massive attack. But they are expecting war to be coming.
[Beck:] You know what? Yes, you tell me, then, if they`re not if they`re not going to do something, what are the emergency drills all about?
[Rosenberg:] Well, this for five days now, Israel is involved in a worst case scenario drill. How would it respond to a massive salvo of missiles, whether it`s from Lebanon, Syria, or Iran? Israel is preparing for war. Syria is preparing for war. Iran is preparing for war. Lebanon is preparing for war. I think war is coming. Can I tell you when, Glenn? No, I can`t. But I`ve got to tell you, this is the most dangerous moment the Middle East has faced since the beginning of the 2003 war in Iraq.
[Beck:] Yes. I will tell you, Joel, your book, which is "Dead Heat," which is on this, I just finished, and it`s absolutely fantastic. I have to tell you, it is the first time that I`ve ever heard anyone explain to my satisfaction why, in the Book of Revelation, America does not play a role in the end days. I think that you solved that problem and explained it quite plainly. I think you could have gone in another direction, which was economic meltdown, which would also explain it. But it`s some spooky stuff.
[Rosenberg:] It is spooky. And the first line, of course, as you know, of the book, Glenn, and I say I pray to God this never comes true. The Bible doesn`t explain why the United States is not in end-times prophesy, but it isn`t. "Dead Heat" is a fictional scenario. But it`s the worst-case scenario, in which we don`t really deal, ultimately, with the radical extremists in the world, and we get hit with a series of cataclysmic attacks the likes of which we`ve never seen before. I pray to God it`s fiction. But Iran wants it to be fact.
[Beck:] I know. Joel, thank you very much. Stay safe, my friend. Now, where am I wrong? I don`t think that President Bush will act on Iran before leaving office. And that means Israel will. Joel says no. I think they will act. Agree or disagree? Go to CNN.comGlenn right now and cast your vote.