I don't claim to know as much about this conflict in Iraq as I ought, but I try to know as much as I'm able to absorb. I would find it humorous, if it were not so deadly serious in its consequence, that part of President Bush's justification for this war in Iraq had to do with "known" links between Sadaam Hussein and Al Qaeda. As with most of our nations justification for entering this war, this one proved to be falacious, aside from the fact that Hussein and Bin Laden had met but maintained a general dislike of each other.
NOW, on the other hand, we see Al Qaeda's influence and activities rampant throughout Iraq. We also see Iran's heavy handed, yet "covert," influence throughout Iraq as well. We must be fairly convinced by now that the words "Mission accomplished" uttered by our President shortly after Baghdad was taken are some of the most ridiculous ever uttered. They rank up there with, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman...Miss Lewinski," and "Read my lips: No new taxes."
Only problem is the falacious, arrogant nature of the current President Bush's words only add fuel to the out of control fire that is our current (whether real or perceived) foreign policy. Do we actually think our nation is safer as a result of these actions? Do we think any nation is better off based on what we've done in Iraq? And understand, I'm not saying our military has done a bad job on their end. To the contrary, I would say they've probably done as best they can considering what they were thrust into. I am saying the remarkable nature of our currernt administration's lack of foresight and planning(?) of this venture have proven to be more damaging than helpful. And some folks have been helped, withouth question. But when we start talking about long range security as a result of our actions there, well, we certainly can't be saying this with a straight face. Again, not because of our military, but more because of the policies, motivations, and actions of the current administration.
As a side: If you are a follower of Christ, anywhere in the world, I would say the world has become more, not less, hostile toward you. Being a Christian in Iraq has not been made easier, but more dangerous, as an idea of "Imperial America" and Christian continue to be increasingly viewed as synonymous. This has long been the case, but the constant point of Bush being a "Christian President" does not help, nor does the fact that so many in the evangelical camp so aggressively support what we're doing over there.
Read below first of Christians in Iraq and then of some in Turkey. The story in Turkey may seem like a bit of a disconnect, but note that with two of the men, Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, comes the first known martyrdom of Turkish converts from Islam since the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Maybe there is no connection to what our nation is doing in Iraq, but maybe there is. So are we quelling radicalism or exacerbating it? And this second occurence in a nation that has a strong desire in it to remain governmentally secular.
http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&length=long&lang=en&idelement=4834
http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&length=long&lang=en&idelement=4836
