Just what is the armageddon scenario? [View All]

After waking to the news that Israel attacked a base in Syria this morning, I remembered that there had been some discussion in here about how the fundies look for, and even encourage, middle-east conflict because it's a sign that we're getting closer to armageddon. So I went out googling to find out what it is that they're looking for as signs and how the attack on Syria might be interpreted as another "sign." Unfortunately, all I came up with was some pretty incoherent stuff pointing to everything from AIDS to debit cards as signs of impending armageddon.

Can someone here explain just what armageddon has to do with the middle east and what the fundies think is going to happen? Also, I've heard allegations that some in the Bush administration believe in this and are encouraging strife in the middle east to hurry the scenario along--anything to this?