Persecuted Christians Flee Iraq

Christians lived in Iraq long before the Islamic Caliphate first began spreading its imperialistic tentacles throughout the region, in the 7th century AD. And yet, centuries later, they are being systematically persecuted, mutilated, raped, killed or forced to flee what was once, historically, their home. Considered, at one time, the Cradle of Civilization Iraq is far from civilized these days, as we daily witness the senseless violence perpetuated all in the name of religion.

Aside from the typical Muslim killing Muslim atrocities, they are also targeting the few Christians who have refused to leave a country they have every right to call their own. Although every man has the God-given right to worship as he pleases, Christians are being threatened, killed, kidnapped for ransom, or forced to convert, against their will. According to one man, originally from Baghdad but now living in Northern Iraq,

"I had a choice: Convert to Islam, pay the tax, or give away one of my daughters."

2 years ago, this same man was kidnapped and only released after he paid a large sum of money. This so-called "ransom" is, in effect, the "Jizyah", a tax that all non-Muslims must pay, according to the Koran 9:29.

YUSUFALI: Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Churches and schools are being bombed; priests, men, women and children are being murdered; families are being coerced into paying the Jizyah. If unable to comply, family members are forced to convert to Islam. Those who refuse are given 24 hours to vacate their homes. With all this hatred and violence heaped upon them, Iraqi Christians are leaving the country in droves. Although no-one knows the exact number, it is estimated that of the small 3% of Iraqis that are Christian, at least 50% have left or been killed. That leaves a paltry few. Tragically, this signals the beginning of the end of an ancient Christian culture that has its roots in ancient Mesopotamia.

Thankfully, the Europeans are stepping up to the plate. France has decided to take in 500 Christian Iraqi refugees. Germany has offered to take in others. Churches are working with Germany's Human Rights Commission to resettle at least 20,000 to 30,000 Iraqi Christians. And, although it is a very noble endeavour, the fact that they have to leave, in the first place, is despicable. That there are religions that still exist in this modern, so-called civilized 21st century, that are so intolerant of other religions, and even other sects within their own, that they find the need to kill, bully or dominate, is truly pathetic.

We are all GOD'S children- which means we are all brothers and sisters. Stop killing each other in the name of GOD.

No Respect For Life- Sunni Insurgents Use Mentally Retarded Women As Walking Bombs

Muslims have absolutely no respect for the sanctity of human life! I say this without hesitation, without compunction, because it's simply the truth. On a daily basis we witness them killing each other, blowing themselves up with barely a word of condemnation from fellow Muslims. Other than Africa, they are the only ones, currently, annihilating each other. Without a second thought. With such ease, and no apparent guilt that it boggles the mind.

So why should we be surprised that they would use 2 females with Down Syndrome as human bombs to blow up several popular pet markets, yesterday, in Baghdad. They used a disabled child as a suicide bomber back in 2005 on election day. So what's another 2 disabled people?! They're obviously dispensible in that religion. Then again, all life is dispensible in that religion. But to send off 2 women (who probably had no idea what they were doing and how they would end up) carrying boxes of birds to a market place, and then detonating them by remote control is probably one of the most despicable and heinous acts I have heard, to date. Apparently, they are turning to women to do the unthinkable because people are less likely to suspect the women. Besides, they can hide all those explosives under those tents of black they call dresses. Remember, men can't touch women in that society, so they're not searched.

They claim to be fighting the supposed "occupation", but why then target their own people? Civilians! In market places, oftentimes schools. Women and children, both victims and perpetrators.

For a religion that purports to be so God-centered, and adherents who purport to be so pious, I see not a shred of humanity. Frankly I'm sick of it, and I refuse to sugar coat it anymore.

Sgt. Eddie Jeffers "Hope Rides Alone" KIA 9/18/07

Another good soldier dies sacrificing his life for world freedom, and my heart bleeds.

Sgt. Eddie Jeffers who wrote "Hope Rides Alone" was killed in action on 9/18/07 in Ramadi, Iraq, where he was bravely serving. I don't know the details, only what I read on Canada Free Press. (If you haven't read it, please read it in his honour).

I posted regarding his commentary "Hope Rides Alone", back in January, 07. I was so impressed with what he wrote, I emailed him and wound up corresponding, for a short while, with his Dad, a man of faith who was very proud of his son.

This news touches me deeply because it is tinged with regret. At the end of May, I received a group email from his Dad informing all those who had contacted him about Eddie, that Eddie would be spending 2 weeks of R/R, in June with his wife. He wanted to surprise them for their 2 year anniversary with a 2 night stay in a lovely resort and, apologizing upfront for any offense people might take, asked those who wished to contribute to send 1 dollar to help defray the cost. It was a humble email and I took no offense, but I procrastinated, as I have a tendency to do, and never wound up sending the dollar. Now I feel guilty because I never did, and he's gone. I'd like to contact his Dad, but I'm not sure whether I should.

The lesson for me, is to always follow through, or be a victim of regret!!

Rest in peace, sweet soldier and God bless you for the ultimate sacrifice.

God be with his family.

H/T United Conservatives

UPDATE: 9/23/07

Found this on RightTruth.

Sgt. Eddie Jeffers actually died in a rollover accident in Taqqadum, Iraq. Somehow makes it even sadder. A devout man of faith, like his Dad, 23 year old Eddie enlisted because "He believed he was on a mission from God."

He is a true hero!

Islam: The great "Religion of Peace" and its call to Jihad against all non-believers

Jihad Will Enlighten The World With The Light of Islam

[with sword and gun, of course]

Some people call it a religion of peace, but day after bloody day, it continues to prove itself to be anything but! Not one single wretched day goes by without news of multiple suicide bombings with, more often than not, civilians as the hapless victims. The perpetrators could care less if women and children are killed in the process, and the more the merrier, it seems. And what about the kidnappings of innocent civilians? In Afghanistan, the Taliban have killed one (and possibly two) of the German civil engineers (who were there to build a dam), and are threatening to kill all 23 South Koreans currently being held hostage (including many females), if their demands are not met. Ironically, South Korea has no combat troops there, only engineers and medical personnel, and yet they, too, are the latest victims of Jihadi barbarism. People who are there to help better those countries, pawns in a game of twisted religious fanaticism.

And not only are 'non-Muslims' targets of violence, but Muslims are being massacred by fellow Muslims for being the wrong kind of Muslim. You don't hear of Baptists blowing up Catholics. They might be critical of each other, the Pope might claim the Catholic Church is the only true Church, but you don't see Baptists or other Christians retaliating against them for, forgive me, the Pope's truly stupid and un-enlightened remark. You don't see Buddhists killing Hindus, or each other because they happen to practice a different form of Buddhism. It seems that Muslims (at least the non-secular ones) are the only religious group of adherents that take issue with any religion other than their own. They have absolutely no room for religious tolerance, because what is written in the Qu'ran does not allow for that. Although there are many Christian denominations that also believe theirs is the only way, they don't feel the need to resort to violence to bring people to their fold.

So what makes Muslims (though not all) more prone to violence, as compared to people of other religions? Strict adherence to their Holy Book, the Qu'ran, and the Hadith, both of which heavily promote the concept of Jihad. Although some claim that the term "Jihad" does not mean "Holy War", but rather the "inner struggle or striving in the cause of God", others beg to differ, stressing the importance and obligation of fighting the "disbelievers" (that's you and me, folks) in the name of Allah.

It's quite an eye-opening experience to peek into the dark hearts and minds of fundamentalist Muslim bloggers, who believe the only path to peace is through violent Jihad and world domination. There are, as I mentioned in a past post, dozens of like-minded websites, all calling for Jihad against non-Muslims. And not just Jews, Christians, Buddhists or Hindus, but anyone who refuses to follow the teachings of Mohammed and Islam. These aren't the insurgents, fighting in the streets of Baghdad or from the mountain caves in the Pakistan/Afghanistan borders, blogging for Jihad. These are ordinary people living all over the world in modern, civilized countries, and yes, right here in the good old U S of A and Canada, as well. Some of the female bloggers make Housewife4Palestine look like June Cleaver. In her profile, pretty Shaheen (at least the little you can see of her) pictured in Niqab and holding a Kalashnikov, turns ugly posting the following poem on her blog:

If Only I was a Mujahid…

Since childhood, in my heart, I have had this wish, this desire, this longing,

oh! If only I was a Mujahid I would keep my trousers above my ankles

My face would be decorated with the Sunnah of Rasul Allah (SAW)

A middle parting I would have in my hair
Upon my shoulder I would carry a rocket launcher and in my hand there would be a Kalashnikov

A bomb would adorn my chest and the band of Laa Ilaaha Il Allah would be across my forehead

Then, crossing the blood-stained valley I would launch myself into the thick of battle
Shouting Allahu Akbar I would attack His enemies

Each of them I would eliminate, one by one, avenging the blood of my Shaheed brothers

I would free the weak from tyranny and oppression

Yes! This is the Mujahid I would be!
A Mujahid who would pile up the bodies of the enemy, like Khalid Bin Walid (ra)

Who would shatter the idols, like Mahmood Ghazanwi

Who would burn the ships on the seashore, like Tariq Bin Zayad

Who would battle against the crusaders like, Salaahuddin Ayyubi
And then… fighting Jihad, I would become Shaheed…
But, Alas! This cannot be! For, a lion-hearted, Mujahid warrior I am not

in fact…I am a fragile woman.
By the sister of Abu Talha Yaameen

In Jihad Fields are Calling, Mujahid calls Jihad a "divine duty" and posts the following Qu'ranic verses, Ahadith and other Islamic writings that support the call for Jihad:

1. كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ” البقرة
“Fighting is prescribed for you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not”
Soorah Al-BaqraAyah 216

2. قَاتِلُواْ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَلاَ يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلاَ يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُواْ الْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ
“Fight against those people of the book (Christians & Jews) who don’t believe in Allah and the day of Judgment, and don’t forbit what is forbidden by Allah & His Prophet (SAW) and don’t accept the True Relegion (Islam) as their relegion. Fight Against them until they give capitation tax and surrender before you.”
Soorah Al-TobahVerse 29 .

2. وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلّه
“Fight against them until their remains no mischief and Deen will truly be for Allah”
Soorah AnfalVerse 39

3. ومالکم لا تقاتلون فی سبیل اللہ والمستضعفین من الرجال والنساء والوالدان الزین یقولون ربنا اخرنا من ہزہ القریۃ الظالم اہلہا واجعل لنا من ہزہ القریۃ الظالم اہلہا واجعل لنا من الدنک ولیا و واجعل لنا من الدنک نصیرا۔
“What is wrong with you that you don’t fight for those weak men, women and children? Who is calling that Allah bring us out from this village, whose people are oppressors and send us helper and friend from your side.”

4. يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَهُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ
“Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light however much the disbelievers are averse. He it is who hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may make it conqueror of all religion however much idolaters may be averse.”
Soorah SaffAyah 8-9

5. امرت ان اقاتل الناس حتی یشہد لا الہ الا اللہ، ان محمد رسول اللہ و یقیمو الصلواۃ و یوتو الزکواۃ فازافعلوا زالک عصموامنی دماہم واموالہم الابحق الاسلام و حوسباہم علی اللہ
“Allah ordered me to fight with people until they depose that their is no Lord except Allah and Muhammad (SAW) is his prophet, maintian Salat and give Zakat. Then when they will save their blood and property from me except the right of Islam and the responsibility of this matter is towards Allah.”
Rawi = Hazrat Abdullah Bin Umer Bin KHataab (RA)Muttafiq AlaihBook = Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim

6. بعث بالسیف بین یدی الساعۃ حتی یعبر اللہ و حدہ لاشریک لہ وجعل رزقی تحت ظل رمحی۔ صجعل الزلۃ ولصغار علی من خالف امری ومن تشبہ بقوم فہو منہم
“I have been commissioned with sword till the day of Judgment until that every one will worship Allah who is “La Shareek” and my subsistence is under the shade of my arrows and he who disobey my orders, digrace and humality has made their fate and he who follow and copy other nations, his end will be with them.”
Book: Masand Ahmad

7.الجہاد ماض الی یوم القیمۃ
“Jihad will continue until the Judgment Day”
Book: Bukhari - Muslim.

8. وزروۃ سنامہ الجہاد
“The top of the Islamic building is Jihad”
Book: Sahih Bukhari

He goes on to say:

"you see how much Allah and his messenger insist for Jihad. do you think Allah don’t want peace for his creations??? do you think Prophet Muhammad (SAW) didn’t want peace for his Ummah?? yes they love peace and yet they insist to continue Fighting with Kuffar until Islam will dominate all over the world do you ever wonder why??? because Jihad is the only way to bring peace to the world. you should read my this Blog entry to get your complete answer:

Purpose, Aim & Need of Jihad

May Allah show us all the most righteous"

Another blogger discusses something Muslims call performing "Takfeer", or ruling someone to be a Kaafir (a disbeliever). There are 2 types of disbelievers: the Apostates and then the rest of us worthless Kaafirs. He calls us the:

Original disbelievers who did not enter Islam which the Prophet Muhammad came with from the beginning like the Jews, Chrisitans, Pagans, Idol worshippers…etc. From those whom Allah says about them,"Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyahwith willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” [9:29] {a slightly different version of the above}

Those are original disbelievers. We do not differentiate when we declare them as disbelievers between the individule or the group, between the living or the dead as it was indicated by the Quran and Sunnah. This type of disbelievers should be fought against until they enter Islam or pay the Jizyah.

So much for the so-called "Religion of Peace". Even some of their own claim it isn't. There's a Muslim blog site , called Moderate Islam Refuted (which does just that), that actually states, quite emphatically, that Islam is not a religion of peace. If there was any iota of doubt in anyone's mind, this should set them straight.

Please note: All of the above quotes etc, (spelling mistakes and all) come straight from the Muslim blogosphere.

Sheehan threatens Pelosi: Impeach Bush or else!

Sheehan and Pelosi in better days

Did anyone really think Cindy Sheehan would fade so easily into oblivion? I knew the pull of 'fame' was far too intoxicating and addictive for her to ride off into the sunset of obscurity so quickly. Once a media ho, always a media ho. After she resigned, in a huff, from the Democratic Party and as poster-loon for the anti-war movement back in May, within a few days she jumped on the wacko 9/11 Conspiracy Theory bandwagon and now, she's baaaaaaack, even wackier than ever.

Sheehan's madder than heck and ain't gonna take it anymore. She's issued an ultimatum to Nancy Pelosi: Impeach Bush by July 23rd or she'll run against Madame Pelosi as an Independent in 2008! Says Sheehan:

"I would give her a run for her money." Although Sheehan has never held public office, she said she already has the name recognition and would not have to run against Pelosi in a primary."

Oooooooohhhhh scary, scary. Pelosi must be quaking in her boots. Then again, she could win. Stranger things have happened.Queen Sheehan and her minions will be arriving on July 23rd

"in Washington, D.C., after a 13-day caravan and walking tour starting from the group's war protest site near Bush's Crawford ranch."

If Pelosi has not filed impeachment articles by the time they arrive in D.C., she will announce her candidacy at that time.

"Sheehan, who turns 50 on Tuesday, said Bush should be impeached because she believes he misled the public about the reasons for going to war, [good grief, not this again!] violated the Geneva Convention by torturing detainees [but it's okay for the insurgents to torture, behead etc. soldiers AND civilians] and crossed the line by commuting the prison sentence of former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. [as if Bush is the only President to ever pardon or commute a prison sentence] She said other grounds for impeachment are the domestic spying program and the "inadequate and tragic" response to Hurricane Katrina." [Oh yes, and Nagle and Blanco were not at fault, in any way]

She blames the Libby commutation for dragging her "kicking and screaming back in" to political activism. It doesn't take much, does it? Look, I can understand the woman's grief at losing a son, and my heart breaks for every person who has lost someone in this global war on terrorism, but her "peace-mom" motives are far from honorable. It seems Ms. Sheehan might be a tad anti-Israel, and I truly believe that it has become more about the glory of celebrity and not being validated in the way she sees fit, than a grieving mom's wish for an end to the Iraq War. She wrote a letter, in response to an episode of Nightline where she felt she was unfairly treated:

"Imagine my distress when I turned Night Line on last night and I was confronted with the gory details of my son's murder in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq on 04/04/04. Imagine, also, my sorrow and rage at the side of the story that you presented to the American public...........I was
on the Night Line Townhall Meeting in Washington, DC on 01/27/05. After I spoke (which I think was a fluke), Ted Koppel dismissed me as being "emotional." First of all, how can I approach this discussion without emotions, MY SON WAS KILLED, AND KILLED FOR LIES? Second of all, that show was not fair and balanced and I think the conclusion "Should we stay" was foregone."

Although she claims the person who forwarded this email to Nightline doctored her words, and denies that she ever said the following about Israel, there are leftist, anti-semitic sites that claim she did. And they would have no reason to lie.

"Am I emotional? Yes, my first born was murdered. Am I angry? Yes, he was killed for lies and for a PNAC Neo-Con agenda to benefit Israel.[huh? Guess that's another Conspiracy Theory] My son joined the Army to protect America, not Israel. Am I stupid? [yes! you are] No, I know full-well that my son, my family, this nation, and this world were betrayed by a George Bush who was influenced by the neo-con PNAC agenda after 9/11. We were told that we were attacked on 9/11 because the terrorists hate our freedoms and democracy...not for the real reason, becuase the Arab-Muslims who attacked us hate our middle-eastern foreign policy. [I assume she means our support of Israel] That hasn't changed since America invaded and occupied Iraq...in fact it has gotten worse."

So, would it have been okay if her son Casey had died had she not believed that Israel was a factor? The problem with most anti-Israel/anti-Semitic stooges is that they fail to realize that without democratic Israel in the midst of raging, Muslim-dominated territories that whole region would become an enclave of fundamentalist, hardline Islamic rule. Israel is a stabilizing force in that part of the world.

So, it looks like Cindy Sheehan is here for the long term, as I had predicted. She will always find some cause to glom onto to keep her in the media spotlight. For now, it looks like she's ready to duke it out with Pelosi. This should be fun!

Remember Me- In honour of our brave soldiers

This is a beautiful video honouring our soldiers, created by Lizzie Palmer, a 15 year old Ohio high school student, who plans on joining the U.S. Army after she graduates. She says:

"I only hope I can make America as proud as our troops today have, and I hope I can honor them in the way they deserve with my videos. I love talking to American military personnel, but it's not very often
that I get the chance. Hope you all have a great day and God bless!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!"

Cindy Shee'has got to be kidding'han is considering a bid for Congress in 2008!

Remember when Cindy 'anti-war activist, Chavez-is-my-best-bud' Sheehan, considered running for U.S. Senate against Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, last year?

Well, guess what, she's considering running for office, once again, but the U.S. Congress, this time! She told Atlanta Progressive News that

“I’m on the National Board for the Progressive Democrats of America and they’re really trying to talk me into running for a Congressional Seat in 2008. It’s almost getting to the time to make my mind up by now. I do have the name recognition. I still can’t make my mind up on whether it would hurt the movement.”

And yes, Sheehan is still pushing for impeachment of Bush and Cheney. Sigh. At a post Mother's Day Peace rally, scheduled to start in front of Lafayette Park and end with a March to Congress, today, she mentioned that,

“One demand on Monday will be for people to co-sponsor H Res 333 [US Rep. Kucinich’s (D-OH) bill to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney]. They have to know they have popular support from the grassroots. We also need an effective campaign to target [US House Speaker] Pelosi and other Democratic leaders to put impeachment back on the table where it belongs. The grassroots is coming alive and I think it’s very exciting. I wish our politicians would come alive.”

Can you imagine Kucinich as Prez and Sheehan in Congress. God help us all!

Isn't her 15 minutes of fame up by now?

H/T: WeaselZippers

Aussie Patriot Beccy Cole- country singer puts Dixie Chicks to shame

Happened upon this video of Australian country singer, Beccy Cole, who wrote this song after a trip to Iraq to visit the "Diggers" (soldiers). Grab your box of kleenex... well, maybe not the guys. It's a beautiful tribute.

Granted, we have had our fair share of patriot entertainers, but nice to see it happening across the seas.

Jon Voight speaks out against anti-war propaganda

Well, well, had no idea Jon Voight was one of the Hollywood few with a modicum of intelligence. He was recently interviewed on the O'Reilly Factor about his views on the War in Iraq and the broader implications. Remember, it's not easy to be vocal about your conservative politics in Hollywood, so it's a very brave thing for him to do!



He was also interviewed by Radar magazine, recently, after a visit to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Some very interesting comments!

Do you think it's possible to win the Iraq War?
Here's what I think: this is a real war, extended beyond the borders of Iraq.

As in the more general war on terror?
The war on terror is real. People would have you believe it's not real. This is not Vietnam. This particular situation is not the same wherein we can walk away and just leave destruction behind us. No, we can't. Anyone who has paid attention to what [Iranian President] Ahmadinejad is saying, what all the mullahs are saying in this country and in England, and in all of the Arab world, this is serious—they're calling for the destruction of America and all democracy and that's what's going on. We could lose this war.

Was the Iraq war part of the war on terror before we got there?
I'm interested in talking about this, but it's been so politicized, it's very disturbing, very dangerous. My view of it is this: they say our president lied to us. Well, he didn't lie to us, everybody else had the information he had, and they voted for that tactic.

Even if you disapprove of the war, it seems pretty clear that simply pulling the troops out might not be the best option.
More than that, the war does not end. When we look around and see the evidence of what is being done and the preparations that are being made to disrupt our country and to destroy it. This growing cancer of fanaticism, it's like 1938—it's very, very
similar.

To the Third Reich?
Yeah.

Islamic fundamentalism?
Whatever you call it, the things that are being said are very similar. It's a matter of whether we recognize that or go into a cocoon and make our own little drama. Do you know what I'm saying? We're debating things instead of recognizing that the real fundamental aspect is that we're at war with a very vicious, very clever enemy.

Bravo Jon, for speaking out!

Cut and Run Democrats- Sending the wrong message

Whether out of stupidity or politics (or a combination of both), the liberal factions in our Senate and Congress are sending a terrible and very dangerous message to our friends and foes abroad when they call for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Every single Presidential candidate pledged as much, during the recent Democratic debate, and they undoubtedly will, if they are elected.

No matter how often we are vilified, our flag burned or told how much we are hated, the world still looks to the U.S. for support during times of trouble. Our uncompromising, unflinching belief in freedom and democracy is a beacon of light in regions that are subjected to oppressive darkness. They expect our help, like an older brother coming to the aid of younger siblings being bullied. So what happens when that "older" brother just walks away, leaving them to fend for themselves? How would you feel? Abandoned, helpless, angry, and very reluctant to trust that 'brother' again. I realize we shouldn't have to police Iraq (or anywhere else, for that matter), and the Iraqis should make a concerted effort to take on that task themselves, but they're not ready. Yet! You don't remove a cake from an oven when it's half baked. So we shouldn't be walking away simply because the American people don't have the stomach for war or sufficient enough resolve to finish the job. By 'walking away' we will lose the trust and faith of all our friends.

But even more troubling, is the message we're sending to all the 'bullies' of the world: the insurgents, the terrorists, the despotic leaders. We will, in effect be telling them that we are weak, that we don't have the will or courage to stay the course and that all they have to do is wait it out a while, and eventually we'll give up, cry 'uncle', pack our bags and leave. As we have in the past.

Australia's Prime Minister John Howard said that Congress' recent vote to withdraw U.S. troops was "probably not helpful to the general situation in Iraq. I think it is wrong, and I don't think it is doing anything other than giving great comfort and encouragement to Al-Qaeda and the insurgency in Iraq. They are looking at all this, they read newspapers, they see it on television and they say, 'The American domestic resolve is weakening, therefore we should maintain our resolve.' If there is a perception of an America defeat in Iraq, that will leave the whole of the Middle East in great turmoil and will be an enormous victory for terrorism."

This is one Iraqi's fear re. the consequences of pulling out too soon: "I said it before and I say it again; this war must be won. If it is not the world as you in the United States know it today (and as we here in Iraq dream for it to become) will exist only in books of history. The forces of extremism that we confront today are more determined, more resourceful, and more barbaric than the Nazi or the communists of the past. Add to that the weapons they can improvise or acquire through their unholy alliance with rogue regimes, combined with their fluid structure and mobility… well, they can be more deadly than any forces we have faced in the past. Much more."


Pelosi with her "screw you Bush" look, in her lovely head scarf on her recent visit to Syria.

With the likes of Reid and Pelosi (and their politically motivated antics), they're not only undermining any progress there might be in Iraq, but they are also alerting our enemies to the fact that we are a nation severely divided. And you know the quip... 'United we stand, Divided we fall.' Reid's irresponsible declaration that: "The War is lost", only serves to embolden our enemies. What more do they need to hear? Jackson Simpson, in The National Ledger, says of Reid: "In a speech today he continued his defeatism and blamed President Bush by saying, "70% of Iraqi children are suffering from trauma like nightmares, bed wetting, stuttering and fear -- that some say could paralyze an entire generation that we had been counting on to harvest the seeds of democracy." You can't make this stuff up. He then went the predictable route of comparing Iraq to Vietnam saying, "The Philosopher George Santayana once wrote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Yes, Harry, but you need to go a little further back in history than the Vietnam War for Santayana's quote to have any relevance, whatsoever.

Praying for Peace and the Anti-War Movement

Sadly, today marks the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, and Anti-War activists found time to ratchet up their activities over the weekend. Diverse groups participated in demonstrations worldwide, with the largest U.S. protest taking place in the D.C. area on March 17. Besides the usual suspects, one group, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq (CPWI), a grab bag of Christian organizations, held a prayer vigil, Friday night (3/16), and then marched towards the White House to protest American presence in Iraq, calling for the end to "U.S. Occupation", demanding that we bring home the troops, remove our military bases there, and "stop threatening Iran and other nations."

I find it truly naive to think that the removal of our troops is going to, somehow, improve the situation in Iraq. To believe that the violence will miraculously cease, once the last coalition soldier has gone home, is dangerous and, frankly, irresponsible. Withdrawal is merely going to blow apart a Pandora's Box full of problems in that region, not the least of which will be a bloody sectarian war between the various Islamist factions. The insurgents, in Iraq, are NOT fighting "U.S. occupation", as so many foolishy wish to believe; they are fighting, to the death, the nascent roots of democracy. Democracy is anathema to the fundamentalist Islamic belief system, with its strict adherence to Sharia Law. If democracy were to flourish in Iraq, then God forbid, it might spread to other Middle Eastern countries, and this, they will never allow to happen. Democracy and Sharia Law are like oil and water, so there is a vested interest in making sure democracy does not take root there.

So, in its misguided attempt to be 'peacemakers', the anti-war movement rather than helping to solve a problem, is only contributing to a far greater problem, down the line, for the people in that region,, and the rest of the world. And with the continuing trend towards Islamic conservatism, in Europe and elsewhere, the growing threat of radicalization is only going to increase, exponentially.

Since the beginning, people have called this war 'immoral'. That claim was bandied about, once again, when one of CPWI's event sponsors, the Rev. Jim Wallis, of Sojourners, stated that, "This war, from a Christian point of view, is morally wrong - and was from the beginning. This war is ... an offense against God." But what does that mean exactly? And whose sense of morality? Yes, war is a terrible thing, but sometimes a necessity. And do we have the right to judge which particular one happens to be morally justifiable and which not? And how dare they speak on behalf of God. How do they know what is or isn't an offense against God? Perhaps this is exactly what He wants: freedom and democracy for the Iraqi people. And do they not think that, perhaps, God was offended by all the heinous deeds that Saddam perpetrated on the Iraqis? I wonder if they truly realize how detrimental their actions are; that by demanding immediate withdrawal, they only serve to fortify and embolden the enemy. The extremists know the American people (like the Europeans) are wimps. We've demonstrated that part of our nature, time and time again. They know how to capitalize on our 'wimpitude' and are using it to their advantage. They're now engaging in a "media jihad" with the express purpose of encouraging Americans to continue on their Anti-War path. Apparently, they've been going to U.S. web forums, and posting jihad videos on sites like You-Tube, in order to sway U.S. and Western public opinion, and hence Western governments to pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan. And they seem to be succeeding, quite well, in their endeavour.

I read the following comment on someone's blog: "I always find it very interesting that many soldiers and officer who have been to war usually come back convinced about the ineffectiveness and inhumanity of military solutions no matter the good intentions of those who initiate the action. In the end such tactics usually results in more bullshit and suffering that the locals have to deal with.There is nothing humanitarian about war, innocents is the first and the majority of the victims. (I am no pacifist,I do believe people have a right to defend themselves if they are being invaded). Indeed I find it a very reasonable position for many to be opposed to war or military solutions." This man believes, as I'm sure many do, that the only justifiable military action should be in defense of one's own land, but what about those who are unable to defend themselves? Would it have been "humanitarian" to have left Europe alone to deal with the Nazi problem? And what about the situation in Bosnia? Should we have let the Serbs continue to massacre the Bosnians? And what about Rwanda and Darfur? Do we not have a moral and spiritual obligation to help those in need? Is it not morally offensive to think that as long as it's not in my back yard, it's not my problem? Where do we draw the line?

As for CPWI's demand that we stop "threatening Iran and other nations", diplomacy has proved to be totally ineffective with bully countries, so what do they propose we do? If threats can stop a bully from violating another, than isn't it worth making that threat, rather than having to eventually witness the destruction of that "other" and then being left to pick up the bloody pieces; or living with the guilt of having stood by and done nothing? That would be my option. Had we entered into World War II and the Bosnian War sooner, there would be thousands still alive.

I would venture to say that most people, in the civilized world, desire peace with every fiber of their being. It's a wonderful goal to aspire to, but (sadly) not always possible. There are far too many people who don't want peace; who thrive on chaos and violence and oppression. And, yes, praying for peace is noble and good, but there is praying for peace and praying for peace. One doesn't pray for the withdrawal of troops, like the anti-war activists do, because that doesn't solve the underlying problem. One prays for those whose hearts are filled with hatred and fear and ignorance. One prays that they somehow find their way from the darkness to the light. That is praying for peace.

"Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me."

from the song "Let There Be Peace on Earth" by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson, Circa 1955

"Hope Rides Alone", by Sgt. Eddie Jeffers

Noticed this on littlegreenfootballs.com: a commentary entitled "HOPE RIDES ALONE", by Sgt. Eddie Jeffers, brave soldier currently deployed in Iraq.

Beautifully written and very insightful. It's well worth a read!

God Bless you all, Sgt. Jeffers!