advocate for the destruction of Israel, which is a force multiplier for the danger of insecure, blustering, fanatical Khamenei.

Certainly, by many obvious measures, China is better-equipped to be dangerous. I would imagine that Mr. Gerecht's assessment, which I think is reasonable, is that China is more likely to act in a rational, or predictable manner. The Chinese are doing quite well for themselves exerting power through peacable means. And they know they have the world's respect for their power. They also know that they have a very tetchy Russian bear on their flank. Iran knows it is NOT respected in the larger world, and I am not sure how 'knowing they will not be hit' which I think is correct, as far as it goes, leads you to believe they will not do something provocative- surely the opposite is true. And you are right to say that Muslims in many countries

No, I did not say that, nor, as best I recall, does Mr. Gerecht. I am not aware that the heads of state of Pakistan, Libya, Egypt, Sudan and Somalia have advocated the destruction and effacement of the state of Israel, or what relevance they have to this discussion.

Other than the religious aspect, which is a major component, his ideology is similarly totalitarian. As to his will, it certainly seems pretty robust to this point, and if he is sincerely religious, it will probably continue to be.

You have passed your hindsight vision test with flying colors. It's too bad so many national leaders failed their foresight tests at the time of Mr. Hitler's rise. Perhaps Mr. Buchanan is doing the same. Iran does not need to 'defeat' anyone to be the catalyst for a regional, or indeed a global, catastrophe. It is not technology or armament that makes people dangerous, it is ideology and will. On that basis, I think Mr. Gerecht makes a case for Khamenei being plenty dangerous.

I can't find in my post where I compared the technological states of Nazi Germany and present day Iran; the comparison was between two national leaders more than willing to use violence to further what they see as imperative national goals. How much 'national' technology was used to destroy the World Trade Centers?

Most dangerous man in the world? Pshaw! as Chamberlain said of Hitler.