Persian civilization before it sank under the waves.

Hatless in Hattiesburg posts a wonderful exchange between the Muslim aggressor and his Persian target, Yazdgerd III:

Viewpoint linked to this wonderful centuries-old response to the sadly-non-extinct islamic threat. Except for the references to yet another false god, Ahuramazda, it's excellent:

[Text of the ultimatum from Omar Ibn-Khat'tab the Calif of Islam to the Iranina Sovereign Yazdgerd III]

Bism-ellah Ar'rahman Ar'rhim
To the Shah of the Fars

I do not foresee a good future for you and your nation save your acceptance of my terms and your submission to me. . . .

The Persian king's response is classic, courageous, and sadly as much a description of the nature of the Islamic threat now as then.

"yo yazdgerd." Hatless in Hattiesburg, 10/2/06. (Note that the link to kavehroom, apparently an Iranian site, is not working at this point. We've been unable to locate an alternate source of this exchange of letters.)