As the Iranian military fires tear gas into the crowds on the streets of Tehran and state-run media fills the airwaves with anti-western propaganda, the Ayatollah Khamenei appears to be calling for a unified Muslim world, saying;

“If the Muslim world becomes acquainted with its high capacities and capabilities, conditions will drastically change and the Muslim world can play a role in international developments as an influential power.”

Caliphate.   - A unified federal Islamic government for the Muslim world, ruled by an elected head of state or caliph.

The word caliphate has been heard on American television and radio more in the past two weeks than the past two decades.  One imagines that it will be heard in various forms at the upcoming 24th International Islamic Unity Conference, held at the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting International Conference Center in Tehran February 19 - 21.  Pre-event press claims that 500 or so Iranian Shia and Sunni scholars will be speaking and they have also invited an additional 250 from 57 countries.

"Unity and solidarity present Muslim governments and nations with the best and most effective way to counter the plans, plots, and conspiracies of the enemies of Islam."

Is there some sort of dynamic here where there is an infection of democracy?

Hadley makes it clear that he does not want the riots and protests spreading across the Middle East to be called anything bad like an infection.  And yet, the infection appears to be spreading across the region. That reality is also not lost on the opportunistic forces gathering with hopes of capitalizing on the unrest.

By the way, Unity Week kicks off tomorrow, coinciding with the birth date of Prophet Mohammad.  The timing of all of these events should be noted.

It was less than two weeks ago that Chris Matthews and MSNBC started questioning Glenn Beck's sanity while attacking theories that the unrest across the Middle East is setting the table for a massive Muslim union.