Are we ‘occupiers’ or ‘protectors’ June 27, 2007
Posted by Paul Edwards in America, Iraq, Iraq War.trackback
I have attempted to locate the original source of these photos but it cannot be confirmed. They are attributed to an AP photographer named Khalid Mohammed. If these are actual, untampered photos, they certainly speak volumes about the trust at least one Iraqi boy has in the American military.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”
I only wish the radio program front page had comment areas for the radio journals, and that the older journals could be viewed. We could be commenting on MacArthur’s fabulous National Day of Prayer message.
Hey Paul,
Maybe you should have me on your show to support the other side if the fairness docrine gets put back in place. As I learn more and more about History and about our government I learn how much of a mistake it is as a Christian to associate “right” and “conservative” as our side. This war was started under false presenses and has been fueled under the “terrorism” false pretense. Iraq has NOTHING to do with the war on Terror, they said Weapons of mass desruction, they found none, now we have civil war there. How would you feel is some country over there came here and started war with us under false pretenses? We would fight back too. Right wing does not equal Christian……..
Love you brother and love the show.
Jeff
You have hit the crux of the issue. There is God’s side. Thats it! to a Christian.
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, others lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side-Savior, we are Thine!
Frances R. Havergal 1877
Jeff, as far as I know most of the US and UK intelligence, even UN inspectors thought that Sadam is hiding something.
You can claim, like you do, that we were lied to and the government knew that there was nothing to begin with. But, I have not seen a proof of that yet. Sure you have “proofs” like the conspiracy theories of Michael Moore and others, but as far as I know at the time people were all in agreement.
Now because things have turn out bad, everybody claims they were against it from the beginning. We have to assume responsibility for our actions. Don’t just turn around and switch sides as it is convenient.
Just because right wing does not equal Christian do not assume that left wing does.
We as Christians should be concern with everything: abortion, family values, environment, welfare programs. As Francis Schaeffer once said: being conservative without a Christian foundation is as useless as being a liberal.
The politicians are using Evangelicals every 4 years to get their votes from us and then ignore us until the next election. Maybe we shouldn’t give them our vote so easy.
Ben,
Good comments, my issue is that this War is still being defended and not under the WMD , but Terror. Iraq had nothing to do with Terror, Lies will be told, esp if you are Foxnews viewer but they were not a terrorist state. Why do Christians support this stuff, just because we have a president that “claims” he is evangelical? There is a lot more to Bush than meets the eye, and Christians need to wise up and not by into to a claim to be on their side. I think this is a Bible verse but, I think it says something about being gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent….maybe I butchered that but Christians need to educate themselves on this stuff.
Jeff,
I don’t have cable TV so … no CNN or FoxNews for me … I get my news from BBC news, local news and internet. I also get a lot of news from Iraq through my brother: he’s in Us Army and has a lot of friends that were there. They all say the same thing: media in US does not tell the whole story.
I lived for over 20 year in a communist country under the fist of a fierce dictator … it’s not a lot of fun … trust me. But the same thing happened once the dictator was removed: people will complain and say that it was better before… it takes time and a lot of effort to make things work.
I totally agree with you … since the removal of Saddam things have not gone too well; my guess is also that War on Terror was the only way left to justify our presence there … but in reality they need us. It is funny how every other country wants us out of Iraq except the Iraqi people. Also, there is no doubt that a safer Middle-East will reduce the number of terrorists. Now, we can argue that short term this is not the case. But the real test is what will happen on the long run.
It is not the role of USA to be the cop of the world but … God uses governments to fulfill his justice and plans. I only wish USA will intervene in other conflicts and try to stop them, but probably it’s not going to happened because of this Iraq war. What about Rwanda? Bill Clinton was so concern with the poles that he forgot the value of one single human life.
Bush’s problem has been his loyalty … he trusts too much people that should not be trusted. But to claim that he is not Evangelical I would need more proof than “bad decisions”. I that’s the test … I’m not Evangelical either.
As for that verse: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Mat. 10:16 The context here is a little different than what you have in mind.
I am all for an informed Christian, a Christian that is involved in every part of the political and social life. We need to keep our leaders accountable for their decision. But as Christians we have to also realize that a human life has the same value regardless if it’s American life or Iraqi life. If pulling now from Iraq will lead to a civil war, should we do it? We would save hundreds, maybe thousands of US soldiers … but how many Iraqis will be killed?
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumor of wars: see that ye be not troubled:
for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
and there shall be famines, and pestilences,and earthquakes in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
I recognize that the insertion of this one here will place me where most on this blog are not.
Dear Mr. Edwards,
There are hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians in Iraq who are being persecuted daily. Priests are beheaded almost weekly. Women are forced to wear veils and Christian families are forced to close their businesses and flee to Syria or Jordan. Islamic fundamentalism is threatening to destroy an entire people and civilization. The Christians, known as Chaldeans and Assyrians, have a long history in Iraq. They speak a modern day version of Aramaic the language of Christ and have lived in Northern Iraq for nearly 2 millennium.
The Bush administration does not care one bit our fellow Christians in Iraq. Christians in Iraq have no oil. They have no army or militia to protect themselves. They have no homeland of their own nor any real political power. They are on the brink of being wiped out. I ask you to please use your influence to bring attention to this horrible injustice occurring in Iraq. Thank you sir and may God Bless you.
Beyond the political comments of this blog….has the sadness of this picture hit anyone like it did to me? This child looks 10-12 and is in obvious fear for his life. I wonder, is he alive today or is he in hell for eternity?
As a conservative Christian, I must admit I’m not sure what I think about our current involvement in this war. I felt we were entirely justified to enter Afghanistan, I’m not so sure about Iraq. However, I am certain we cannot just vacate Iraq now without making matters worse.
My oldest son turns 18 soon and is planning on joining the Army. I must say, my concerns with our policies and handling of the war hit much closer to home these days.
Jeff
There is a third possibility. Perhaps he has been exposed to the Gospel, by the Iraqi Christian movement that Nick has referred to and is under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. War is a tough issue, often times with an obscured reason, and no apparent solution. Look to Israel and you will see a good picture of this turmoil. Man has often fought against life, while God preserves it. I would suggest that war demonstrates the Biblical doctrine of man’s depravity. In many cases, it is the flesh that drives it. Left to ourselves, we could produce self inhalation in short order. I know this, that if there must be war, I would surely want an assurance that God was directing us to do so.
My prayers I offer for your son. Thank him for his willingness to serve us, a commendable character trait. It must be a hard time in a parents life to send a child off into this time of uncertainty with full blessing of the decision to go. I offer my prayers on your behalf also.