Iraqi Crusade

http://www.opednews.com/articles/U-S--Soldiers-Launch-Campa-by-Jason-Leopold-080529-335.html

 

Since the beginning of the War in Iraq, I have argued that it was necessary to go in and remove Saddam for any number of valid reasons.  I always looked with “conspiracy theory” eyes those that claimed we went to Iraq for oil or religion.  When I was there, a barrel of oil was WELL under $100.  Now, its well over $100.  Gas prices were painful at almost $2 / gallon, now… ouch.  So, if we were there for oil, we’re doing a crappy job. 

 

Now, I read that article above and see that SOME Soldiers think it IS about religion and are taking tracts and witnessing on patrol.  Really?  “Witnessing on patrol.”  That means that we have Soldiers in Iraq, more than one or two, possibly a whole Division, that is taking Bibles and witnessing materials on patrol and trying to convert the Iraqis.  Talk about the wrong thing to do.  How can we even claim that its not about religion anymore when Soldiers are walking down the street, with automatic weapons, telling people about the “good news” of Jesus?  This is EXACTLY like the Crusades and it needs to stop ASAP.  This will only prolong the war and muddy the waters about WHY we are really there. 

 

For the record, the Pentagon claims no responsibility for the witnessing and says it didn’t know anything about it.  I believe it. 

 

I think this is just one unit, or group of Soldiers “trying” to be good Soldiers AND good Christians.  Too bad one has nothing to do with the other – especially on patrol.  Shouldn’t they be watching rooftops or searching for bad guys instead of handing out Bibles and pamphlets?  Are these Soldiers on a combat patrol, or are they disciples witnessing?  If they are Soldiers, they should act like Soldiers.  If they want to be disciples then they should drop the body armor, drop the weapons, and trust god to protect them while they witness.  But, the truth is, they don’t trust their god THAT much.  They trust him well enough to go out in armored vehicles with machine guns and grenade launchers covered in 40 pounds of armor, but I bet none of them has enough faith in their god to go without it.  Ok, maybe a few do – but I bet that would be short-lived – so to speak.

 

Bottom line: Trying to convert people during a war, on the battlefield, is a Crusade and makes it a religious war – for them.