Our politicians: More talk while their faces turn away from Iraq

Time keeps ticking away, yet those in Washington cannot seem to pull themselves away from their meaningless fluff in order to come up with an exit strategy from Iraq. I have to say, I don't care to watch the evening news anymore. I don't want to hear of another man or woman who has lost their life to the war in Iraq. Hearing of our military death tolls angers me to no end. Every time a news item revealing how many more men and women we've lost comes across the screen, I have this same thought: Our government seems content to let this massacre continue.
Our politicians and those in charge of our military could do something about this tragic situation, yet they seem strangely indifferent and uninvolved. According to this news item from May 29: 10 U.S. Soldiers Killed On Memorial Day, 5 British Nationals Kidnapped, "Gunmen dressed in police uniforms kidnapped five Britons from Iraq's Finance Ministry Tuesday, the same day that two suicide bombings killed at least 44 people and U.S. officials announced the Memorial Day deaths of 10 American soldiers".

Friends, this is not an isolated incident. These types of killings and kidnappings are a regular occurrence now. What do we hear from our President? Is he silent on this issue that is the single most important one this nation has faced for years?

A recent article from Counterpunch seems to sum it up. Here is a snippet:

"President Bush can meet with family friend, Prince Bandar while Vice President Cheney meets with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, but neither leader are able to meet with Cindy Sheehan and the mothers who ask to know why their children have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Our President and politicians seem indifferent, aloof, and unconcerned about the ever growing death tolls in Iraq because they are unconcerned! Man, what a revelation.
They are much too busy finding ways to line their pockets and stay in office. From the time of our President's infamous, "Bring it on" statement to this day, The Prez seems like it doesn't matter how many of our military are killed and maimed.
Why are we still in Iraq?
Why are more of our sons and husbands, wives and daughters, dying?
These have been my questions over and over again. I can see my own son giving his life to protect this country. It would be hard on me, but I could take that. I could accept that. But I could never get my arms around him giving his life for an unjust and futile cause.

The loved ones who have lost family members to this war are the first ones our government should give an account to.
The intelligence was flawed and this was the reason why we waged this war? Well it isn't flawed anymore. We have known full well for some time now that going into Iraq was a mistake.

War Profiteering

I will tell you my opinion of why we are still there and why our government has told us to buckle down and get ready to be there much longer than anticipated: It is because there are some getting very rich off of us staying there! Carlyle, Halliburton, Bechtel, and other corporations are loving this and every drop of blood that is spilled is nothing to them. If we leave, the money spigot stops for these people. But all is not lost. There is always something we can do, no matter how futile the situation may seem.

You can contact your Senate, just dial the switchboard for Congress at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senator by name.
If you need additional contact information for your senator, here is the place to get it.

Who wants us out of Iraq? The Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus. Take note of the names while you're there.

Our War in Iraq: Firestorm None Can Put Out

To get your own house in order should be the primary concern with every great nation that ever existed. America does not have their house in order by a long shot, yet they have went about in order to spread freedom and democracy in other nations. When I hear the phrase, Spreading democracy, I think to myself, “What kind of “freedom” did we bring to Iraq by way of torturing its citizens? By now most of us must realize that the only thing being spread very thick in Iraq is hatred.

We are told by those in charge in our Administration that some lives will be lost in the war on terror. However, the casualties of both our own military as well as the citizens in Iraq cannot be properly categorized as “some”. A majority of Iraqi citizens do not want us to be in their country. They continue to be very leery of our reasons for being there and who could blame them?

As I have said several times before in my writings, if another country invaded the United States and did to us what has been done to the citizens of Iraq, I would take up arms and fight with every fiber of my being against those invaders.

The War on Terror

Our being in Iraq has caused a firestorm of hate and killing that will not end until we leave. Those who decided to go in act oblivious to these things. What are the true reasons we went in and why are we still there? Some of these reasons I am sure we will never know. But I know that some have gotten wealthier than they were before we went in. Those corporations and oil producers will probably fair better and come out better in the end than anyone else. What sparked many people’s curiosity about all of these things is when we found out that there were plans sought by President Bush to go into Iraq eight months before 9/11 ever occurred.

What has happened since this invasion?

Our great military machine has been weakened in a major way. Don’t think for a moment that it hasn’t. We have not won this war in Iraq and we have suffered severe blows because we went in for the wrong reasons. This is not the fault of our military. As George Bush said recently, he takes full responsibility for what has went on. It makes me cringe when I think about what a staggering responsibility this truly is. Just think of all the blood that has been shed, the cries to God for vindication and help from the innocent. Yes, our President has a huge responsibility and he will have to answer for what his actions. Think about the many lives this war has claimed. It is staggering.

9/11 was Carte Blanche

The atrocities that were perpetrated on 9-11 seem to have given carte Blanche to those in our administration. What did we hear immediately after 9-11? Those who committed these atrocities would be found and brought to justice. The President promised us this when he spoke through the bullhorn at ground zero. Have those who perpetrated 9-11 been brought to justice? No, of course they haven’t. However, our military is being used to protect the oil fields in Iraq. Does this confuse you? It should my friends because it doesn’t make sense.

Our troops let the looters have their way when Baghdad was taken, yet the first order of business was protecting the oil ministry.

Have we learned anything about this war on terror yet?

We are told that we fight the terrorists over there so that we won’t have to fight them here. This is rubbish. We are going to have other attacks on our soil whether we have our troops in Iraq or not. You don’t invade a country which has not harmed you without suffering being doled out to you at a future date.

This is a warning I have given for some time. I believe that we in America will likely go through a war on our own soil because of what we have done in Iraq. Remember, you reap what you sow. Our own nation is in disorder, and we need to get our own house in order as such so who are we to go about nation building and nosing into other nation’s business?

As I have often said, this nation will be in such a mess come the next presidential election that I don’t believe we will recover from it. What is a new president going to do about this mess? I just don’t think it will happen. What has happened in the past six years can be equated to a raping and pillaging of our nation. Who are the rapists? They are a few radicals in our Administration, as well as those who tell them what to do.

I don’t claim to know why they have done what they have done to our country. But ask yourself this: Would someone who does such things to a nation love that nation? Of course the answer would be no. If you care for a nation, you don’t want to take steps that would weaken it in any way, let alone the depths that the United States has descended to.

We are in deep financial debt to other nations. There will come an accounting of that debt someday but we in America don’t like to think of such things. All I can say at this point is that we will only prolong the suffering of this nation if we choose to hide our head in the sand.

What can we do?
What I am doing is keeping my faith in the God of the bible. I am attempting to get out of debt. I owe bills and I am trying to get them paid off. I am learning to do without things I don’t have to have. I am not driving a fancy car or truck. I am trying to learn to be more self sufficient. I don’t see my government as my bail out. At one time I did not think on these things and now they are often on my mind and in my heart. Keep your faith in the God who is the creator of both the heaven and the earth. Pray for this nation as well as other nations. All people are important and have value in God’s eyes and we would do well to remember that truth.

A view of the home front while observing the war on Terror

To many on the American home front, it is becoming more problematic to keep the home fires burning while observing the War on Terror. Paying through the teeth while the gas gouge is in full swing is only one example of the pain the average American is presently enduring.

Another example is the growing scarcity of well paying jobs.

Just recently it was revealed that General Motors will be cutting 30,000 jobs

While we observe this war on Terror, the average American is being laid off and left out to hang with this struggling and sorry excuse for a "robust economy".

Sure, gas producers and private military contractors are not complaining. And for those of us who do complain about the current state of economic affairs in America, we are viewed as annoying bugs that those who are fairing financially well desire to shoo away from them with the back of their hand. That reminds me of the attitude those in the Administration have toward all who question their actions in Iraq. One gets the feeling that anyone who may take issue with them over their past and present actions are just a trivial annoyance to them.

Another sad state of current affairs on the American home front is the prescription drug plan instituted by our President. Many I know are confused at best and frightened out of their wits over the ultimate outcome of this much touted plan put into law by those in the Administration:
" Report Asks if Some Poor May Lose Coverage "

The above linked article goes on to report: "Government auditors said Friday they are uncertain that all poor people now getting medicine through Medicaid will be able to get their prescriptions filled beginning Jan. 1.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is automatically enrolling them into the private plans. However, even if 1 percent are overlooked during the transition, 60,000 people would have problems getting their medicine".

Who will be the one to stick up for those who will be left defenseless and disappointed because of this new drug plan? In another recent article, the headline reads:

Neediest may be hurt by new Medicare drug plan

"Some of the nation's oldest, sickest and poorest people could wind up being hurt instead of helped by Medicare's new prescription drug benefit, health advocates warn.

They fear that some people -- including patients in assisted-living homes, the mentally ill and those with chronic conditions such as AIDS -- could face higher costs and bureaucratic obstacles that make it harder to get the drugs they need ".

I have been concerned that in the end a mess might ensue when this prescription drug plan was first being discussed and touted.

These are only a few of the views from the home front that we as Americans are faced with every day. But what of those whom we love and who are absent from the home front due to the war on Terror?
Mission Accomplished

The question utmost on many people's minds is:

Just when is the mission truly going to be accomplished? When is the United States military going to get out of Iraq?

The way I see it, in order to answer these questions, we must first understand what we are doing there.

This is not a simple task.

We are told we are there because reconstruction must be completed. So let's see how the reconstruction effort is going shall we?

This from the Christian Science Monitor, dated August 26, 2005: the headline reads

" Iraq reconstruction shows limited progress :Need for extra security, money lost to corruption, hinder rebuilding efforts".

The article goes on to relay "A series of recent reports by the US government, non-governmental agencies and private organizations shows that despite spending more than $9 billion in Iraq in the past two years, the US has had only "limited progress" in important sectors such as oil and power".

This is only one news item I have found while stumbling across many. I am sure you can get a much clearer picture from reading the article in it's entirety.

All of that money and time, not to mention the loss of life equals limited progress with the reconstruction effort.

Can someone please tell me how reconstruction in Iraq is to be completed in a bloody war zone? Such efforts would appear to be in vain.

From this perspective, how are we to believe the situation will get better in Iraq to the extent that our military can come home?

When having this question put to them, those in the administration act as if we are whining cry babies. They act as if we are being unreasonable by asking any questions about our mission there and when it will end.

This is not the way for any Administration to act. After all, how many of those in our current administration watched their sons or daughters march off to risk their lives for this war effort? We have valid questions but I take it our questions do not matter to them.

While defense contractors are enjoying a rosy and vital economic status since this war began, the rest of us are struggling to pay taxes and keep gas in the tank so we can get to and from our low wage jobs. That is, if we have one. Where is the outrage at all these issues? We should all be seeking God in this hour and asking him for guidance during these chaotic and dark days we live in.

With this said, I believe as I have said before, America is in for dark days ahead. If we believe that we can escape God's hand of judgment, we are mistaken. Do you believe that this war is a good thing?

Do you believe that God himself condones our actions in Iraq?
Do you believe that it is a justified action that those in the current administration have undertaken?

James 1:27

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

In Isaiah 58:6, God says :

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

We are to be currently engaged in setting the captives free by first telling them the good news and secondly, by helping and not hurting them. How different this is from innocent people being killed in this bloody war the American administration has chosen to undertake. The Iraqi's didn't cause the terror in the United States, yet they are being treated as if they did. They have been punished as if they have. We are to be yoke breakers. Instead we are placing a heavy and painful yoke on the necks of those innocent souls we have harmed since the beginning of this war.

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?

Again, this is easy to understand. Our Lord always makes it that way. Instead of taking away from people, we are to be adding to them, for their good and all to bless them. We have done the complete and total opposite in doing what we've done by force in Iraq. Those stripping the clothes off Iraqi's and taking photographs of them to taunt them is a disgrace. Those who have done such things should be ashamed. But they had their orders and they chose to carry them out. Those who gave the orders for our military to do these things, as well as those who actually participated in such atrocities should be ashamed.

8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.

These are our rewards for doing as the Lord has instructed. We will enjoy good health and be filled with understanding and wisdom and joy. The very glory of the Lord will be our reward.

The bottom line:

Among other things, I believe that this war on terror is serving to ultimately wear down and weaken our military. Many see this fact and are asking why those in power are continuing to let it happen. If we were dealing with and fighting an enemy who threatened our freedom and way of life, then it would be in every way understandable. But since this is not the case with Iraq, many are right to sit in awe and silence when they think of this war on "terror".

How is a weakened military in America's best interest?

It is not

But it is in the interests of some, I am sure of it.

If there is another terror incident in the USA, will a draft be implemented?

I believe that an attack on America is the only event at this point that would perpetuate a draft, I believe this wholeheartedly.

We are told that if we do not defeat the terrorists on foreign soil *Iraq* then we will have to fight them here. It was the United States that invaded Iraq's turf, and not the other way around. No friends, something does not add up and hasn't made sense to me ever since the administration's "effort" in Iraq commenced.

What about the negative implications of this war on terror? Where is the debate when it comes to these things? Foremost among these negative implications we can see a weakened United States Military and a tremendous debt to the United States of America.

We most certainly have suffered casualties as a result of this war on terror.

On the one hand:

The numerous lives and limbs of those who have only done what they were ordered to do. These men and women have trusted our administration that they would not put them in harm's way unless absolutely necessary.

On the other hand,

The strength of our military has suffered. Our military of these United States has been weakened in a major way.

Are these two things in the best interest of Americans?

I think not.

The fork in the road: 911 and beyond

I believe those of us who live in America have passed that fork in the road.

In fact, I believe that we are currently traveling along a path that will end in suffering and lamentations we can scarcely imagine. I believe that steps have already been taken that will ultimately end in a disruption of our lives as we have known them thus far. How do I reckon this? I have had my eyes open for the last 4 years and the following are some of my observations:

The first were the elections of 2000. There were many African Americans and others who did not get to vote or did not get their votes counted in the Presidential elections that year. Never before had we witnessed such an event. At least not in our nation. We had all heard of other nations having their elections toyed with, yet in America we had not experienced this. This was one of the first times that I sat up and began to take notice that our good old America had changed, and not for the better. After the elections were over, I regained some of my composure but still pondered on what a travesty had taken place. I then observed 9/11.

After the tragic events, I did not hear much in the way of repentance and trust in God. I suppose it was not fashionable to speak of the spiritual and deep things of God at that time, but this is wrong thinking, for that was the perfect opportunity to speak the truth. Had the pastors and preachers on Television started preaching on the repentance of one and all in our country, who knows where it would have led. At that time we all would have greatly benefited from strong repentance messages, but we were way too busy listening to others with vengeance on their minds and rallying alongside them. No time for timely repentance messages. Exhorting others to repent was not given top priority. The same news reporters who dared not bring up God's name were now busy asking every preacher they could drag onto their news programs and other shows "Why would GOD allow this tragedy to happen"?

The real question was and continues to be:

"Why were a group of fanatical terrorists so angry with America that they would board planes and slam them into the World Trade Centers"? Did God force those terrorists to board the planes and create this chaos and havoc? No, he did not, no more than he can force anyone to do anything. So then, the real question is WHO did this and WHY did they do it? The terrorists who perpetrated these crimes were not angry at God for anything, they were obviously angry at AMERICA and more specifically, the financial institutions of America. The World Trade Centers were the financial hubs of America.

The Trade Centers were the center for commerce in America. Why would a group of terrorists want to destroy America's financial Institutions and the thousands of innocent civilians working there? This was a question that I was wondering myself. I am not absolutely sure of anything, but I do know we should all have enough sense to understand this much about the matter.

Downward Spiral Ever since the elections of 2000 and 9/11

This country has been in a downward spiral that it has not yet recovered from. When we have opportunity to repent of our sins and the sins that our country has committed against other nations, we will hear none of it. We remain headstrong despite how low we continually fall into the abyss. What crimes have we committed against other nations you may ask. I will tell you, the crimes of INVADING and OCCUPYING Iraq. I heard many times that there were weapons in Iraq that would cause a possible mushroom cloud to come upon us if we did not invade. Well, we now know that there were no weapons. Many innocent lives have been lost there because of this invasion not to mention the disruption of vital services to those who have to live in that country.

We must understand that we are to think on these things and have compassion upon those who are currently having this done to them. If we say that we are Christ's people, yet we do not have our hearts broken over what is going on over there, we are not fooling anyone. The truth of the matter is if we have not compassion and love for everyone in this world, we are not his. We had better set up and take note of what we consider justice and righteousness. It matters to God and it should matter to us. Before 9/11 and After 9/11 we were busy living life which for most of us means, tending to our jobs and indulging in whatever hobbies that are near and dear to us. There is most surely a lesson to be learned from 9/11 and it's aftermath for every one of us no matter how near or far we are from New York City. It is just this, in simple terms, America did not have 9/11 perpetrated upon it for no reason. I have heard that they did these things because they hate our freedom we enjoy in the U.S. I don't buy that for a moment. There are those out there who long for America's destruction and there is a reason for their madness. I am currently trying to understand what has caused this great hatred, but I already know one thing for sure, when a nation turns their back on God, anything will and most usually does happen to them. I am currently trying to get the message out that because we invaded Iraq, we will most likely be invaded sometime in the future. What you give out you get back. I truly believe this. This is bible. Any nation that invades another nation for no reason will pay for it in spades. Mark it down, it will happen.

It is called reaping what you sow. If you would like to read my earlier articles, If God is to bless America, We must have a call to repentance and Lamentations for America , please do so.

Here are some ideas as to why America finds itself on the brink of it's destruction, caused by the power of it's own hand.

We have turned our backs to God and our faces are no more beholding his Glory.

This happened before 9/11. Our faces were beholding our own glory. And we in our majesty believed our visage was wonderful and a sight to behold. Sin always ends up this way. Our minds were consumed with our wants, needs and desires. We were oblivious to other parts of the world and the struggles they were continually facing. For that matter, our hearts were oblivious to our next door neighbor's lack and the struggles they might be going through. Compassion being almost non-existent toward others, we forget that while we enjoy our life, there are always others who are not enjoying theirs because they lack the basic necessities of life.

To care for others and to place other's lack as a focal point in our own lives is the true hallmark of being a Christian, but have we done this? Are we currently doing this? Jesus Christ fed the 5000. Why did he do this? Because he had compassion upon that multitude of people. It hurt him to see those people hungry and without food. Our stubbornness and disregard has caused us to be engrossed with a perpetual lullaby. We are currently in a state of carelessness and idleness.

We have been put to sleep by our own delusions, devices and desires.

We believe that everything in our lives will get better and better. Never can we fathom a worse case scenario for the nation we live in. Although I am one voice, I will use it to give the call to one and all that America will see misery and lamentations if she does not repent.

I do not want this to happen and God does not want this to happen, but if we as the people of this great nation do not repent of our sins, it surely will become a reality that we will have to live through.

Remember this: Though the flood came, God protected Noah and his family. But there would have been no protection had Noah not listened, made a choice, and acted upon what God told him to do. This brings me to my final point in this small article. You have to be listening in order for God to talk to you . Then you must CHOOSE what you do with the information that God supplies you with. Then you must ACT upon that knowledge that has been given to you.

These are 3 steps but they are all crucial. Not one can be left out if you are to have discernment that is needed in these days we now live in. If you choose to disregard a warning that God gives, you are signing yourself up to suffer in one or more areas in this life. His truth is the one sure thing we can count on in this life. It is the solid rock that we must be bound to. As the days grow darker we should grasp onto his truth in addition to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter and the friend who sticks closer to us than the dearest brother we could ever find on this earth.

Building A Nation by Blood and Force

Habakkuk 2:12 Woe to him that builds a town with blood and establishes a city by iniquity!

We are currently engaged in rebuilding the nation of Iraq by shedding blood and by using force.

We go into a country that has not attacked us, start dropping bombs and allowing others to be tortured, yet we expect that nation to roll over for this and accept it?

Where is the outrage in our own nation over this? Where is the outrage of the Christians in regards to these policies we have introduced?

The astonishing truth is that many do not have a problem with our actions in Iraq.

If this is spreading democracy, I am not for it. How much longer will the masses be duped by the ridiculous explanation that we are there to spread "freedom and democracy"?

Would any of you tolerate or accept this type of "freedom" and "democracy" being perpetrated upon you in your own country? They speak of freedom, but the freedom they speak of is shedding innocent blood and getting away with it. But let me assure you that God sees all and will reward accordingly. The time is rapidly approaching in which the number of casualties of this war will exceed numbers we could scarce imagine. And yet those in control of setting policy and making decisions are not speaking out. Their tongues remain silent when the American public demands an answer from them.

Here is a bit of truth for those who want to hear it:

Those who have never known the hell and atrocities of war are all too eager to send another man or woman's son into it. And stop and think about what type of war is being waged.

Is this a war in which we are defending OUR liberties and OUR freedoms for our country? Let's take a look.

Saddam Hussein NEVER committed a crime against the United States. The nation of Iraq did nothing to us personally. We first went into Afghanistan and then somehow found our way into Iraq.

Do you not see something wrong with this? Who wanted to go into Iraq and for what purpose? I was watching television when it was announced that we would go into Iraq, two words came into my mind and heart, they were WHAT and WHY.

Enough of the atrocities, enough of utilizing our military for purposes that are going nowhere and that kill innocent people. Those who say "We are there now, so we must stay, we must win and make this thing work", I want to ask one question.

How can you take a wrong and make it appear right?

You cannot, the only way you can make a wrong right is by being honest and confessing that what has currently been done was in error.

What about the Families that have lost loved ones over this war? We need to be asking those who plunged us into it, but I doubt there will be an answer. See my links at the bottom of this page for web sites as well that you should check out for families of the military.

A wrong cannot be made to appear right, for it is not possible to call white black and black white. Those who do these things are only engaging in their own fruitless wishful thinking or else are engaged in the most sickening of deceptions upon those who believe them.

But we do not hear anything about our being wrong or making an error in judgment in regards to going into Iraq. We constantly hear how there are positive thing goings on in Iraq and many tell us that we are not hearing the good news. I fail to understand how the good we have done could justify the atrocities that those live with every day in such a bloody war zone. It is as if those who decided to start and keep up this war are in a constant sleep or dreamland. But the decisions that have been made have placed countless others in for the nightmare of their lives.

We went on and on about the torture chambers in Iraq, then what do we do? We go and prove to the world that we are torturers as well.

Read the current news article,"A Soldier's Heart"

Here are a few issues that I feel must be raised, I believe they are worthy to be addressed:

Stop loss policy

This policy is nothing more than an attempt at slavery.

Notice I said "attempt", because it will not last. This attempt at slavery will fail God willing. Here is a news story: Soldiers fails to halt 'stop-loss' rule Those soldiers who have served their time over the years should not have shackles put on them afterward. But this current war we are engaged in is calling for more bodies and more blood even if those bodies have already served their time in the heat of combat. Every time I hear the question asked, "Why are we still there" I hear an answer like "We must complete reconstruction". How can there be satisfactory reconstruction in a war zone? I have yet to get an answer on this. The situation is now such that all attempts at reconstruction can be thwarted at the drop of a hat. Bombs going off at sites that are under reconstruction is a chaotic effort to say the least.

Not to mention that the Governor of Baghdad was recently assassinated:Baghdad Governor Assassinated

How can there be fair and safe elections if the Governor cannot manage to be kept safe?

The top General of the Army reserves has stated that the reserve is rapidly degenerating into a "broken force".

In the midst of this madness, we hear that our Secretary of Defense is not even signing condolence letters by hand to the families of our military.

Here is an article to read: A lot of people are paying now for Bush excesses

Shedding Innocent Blood:

One of the seven deadly sins spoken of in the Bible is "Hands that spill innocent blood".

Numbers 35:33

So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

How many more have to sacrifice their lives in order for the blood letting to cease? What will it take before this war in Iraq is examined through eyes that WANT to see the truth of the impossible situation that has become the "War in Iraq"?

What will happen to America because of what we have done in another country and allowed to take place there?

In the bible, we can always look back and see what becomes of a nation that goes against the principles that God has set forth. To a country that does what we have done to another, this means that we will get what we have given. We invaded and took over another country and have subjected them to atrocities that we would never want to be subjected to. With this knowledge, it is a good GUESS that we will someday have the same done to us. This is the old adage that you get what you give or you reap what you sow.

In other words:

We go into a country, spill innocent blood,

Another country will come unto us and spill our innocent blood.

The only ones who would take issue with this are those who are so steeped in pride that they refuse to see the truth.

Was Jesus a war monger?

No, he was not. I challenge you to find one passage in the Bible that states otherwise. You will not find it.

For even when Jesus was approached in the Garden of Gethsemene by those who sought to take him and kill him, Peter drew his sword and Jesus instructed him to put it away. Even when Jesus had done no wrong and there was an apparent NEED to protect the innocent *Jesus*, our master said: "Put up your sword".

John 18:

10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

When the Samaritans did not receive Jesus, James and John had an idea: Notice how Jesus rebuked them for it:

Luke 9

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

When any country goes against what God has set forth as truth in his word, that country has begun to weaken itself through it's own actions.

Galatians 6

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

The Injustices:

We have veterans that have had to suffer with their benefits being cut, where is the outrage about this?

There are numerous soldiers who are injured for life and do not have adequate checks to live on and nothing is done about this.
Our military trusted that those who have the rule over them would not send them into harms way unless absolutely necessary. Has this war in Iraq been proven to be ABSOLUTELY necessary to our military or to us as American citizens?

Below are some web sites that are managed by families of the military, I advise you to check them out for yourselves.

Military Families Speak Out

Bring Them Home Now

Veterans For Peace

The War abroad and the War at home

January 26, 2003
Our troops and possibly some or many National guard units (Who we routinely rely on to stay here on our soil to protect and serve us in war time) are being sent off to the Gulf. This is disturbing. Now it would not disturb me if it were more clear to me what we are supposedly going to be fighting for.
Yes, I am aware of what we've been told by our Government as well as the media, democrats, republicans, partisan, by-partisan, the list could go and on. But the one million dollar question is only this:

Does Iraq have weapons of mass destruction that they are going to use on us Americans? What immediate threat do they pose to us?

Are we to believe what our President tells us, the U.N Inspectors or both?

We cannot believe both, because they are not in agreement on this in the first place.

We are to WAIT according to the UN. Wait that is until the inspectors can have more time. But our President seems as though waiting is not an option.

The Oil Question

I have heard references to oil as many of you surely have. On MSNBC or another national cable news network, I listened to a comment made that referred to the "substantial oil revenues we would have to regulate" once we had removed Hussein from power, etc. Not a direct quote here folks, but I'm sure you get my meaning about oil revenues.

I do not want our men and women leaving us and risking their lives if oil is in ANY way the reason our Government is seeking to change this Regime. They are desiring to change Iraq's regime, however, who are we to choose WHO is in power in a foreign country? Especially at the cost of untold thousands of lives of our own Americans. If we knew the answers to the questions, I could feel differently, but right now, it seems that our Government wants to only change their regime and control their OIL, And that is just not acceptable to me.

The Question of Osama

I am open minded. I agree Hussein is not ok and has caused atrocities to happen to his own people, but ask yourself this: What happened to Osama B. Ladin? Hussein did NOT cause the terror attacks of 9/11/01 nor did he have any hand in it. At least we have not been told that. With the exception of being told on news networks that perhaps Iraq is harboring al-quaeda members. And if we want proof of that? Just forget it.

Yet Osama Bin Ladin is spoken of VERY rarely by our Government and media anymore. Isn't this strange? Why isn't our Govt going after him with all their might just as President Bush vowed to do in the days following the tragedy.

This makes absolutely no sense at all, to put on hold the OBL matter, but our President does not wish to speak of Osama B Ladin, nor does the majority of our media. Does nobody care?

And what about the families left behind, the family and friends of those who lost loved ones? How must they feel when all they are bombarded with day after day in the news is the war with Iraq?

Something is not right here. Bush wants Regime change, but I say that we Must get our hands on OBL and his co-horts and utilize all of our military might for this!

The Axis Made Them Forget

IMHO, The "Axis of Evil" took much of the focus off of 9/11 and Bin Ladin. This was a Switch-O-Change-O. The question is why.

I could go on about this, tell you more of my personal insights and guestimate on it all day long, but I will not, moving right along.

The War At Home

I want to speak of the problems here at home. Record unemployment is high and growing every day. Wall Street is NOT doing well and I can only imagine what it's like for those who are out of work. The formerly financially fit are now relying on visits to soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

In my own opinion, I believe our chief focus should not only be on catching Osama B Ladin, but on helping our own who have been devastated because of this current economic catastrophe! The sympathizers for this tragedy are desperately needed.

We have our eyes closed tightly- (some do and others do not), but that does NOT make it go away. It really does no good for those who are out of work, out of food and the desperate in America trapped in this stale economic state.

Please pray for those who are trapped in financial difficulties and don't know what to do. Pray as well for those who are in fear for what may be coming upon this country as well as other countries around the globe.

I have to tell you that I do not feel positive about this impending face-off with Hussein. I do not feel like it will be "quick" as we have heard it so often put to us by our news media. In the past I would agree. But not anymore. The reason? We have gotten too sure and too full of ourselves. That is the epitome of pride, and pride comes before a fall. I only pray that it does not happen. America has done many good things for other countries. But doing "good" is not about touting that goodness, rather it is about doing it in such a way that God is pleased with our good toward others. We do not do good expecting that we will get paid back for that good. And remember the Bible passage in which a foolish nation is described? "It will not come nigh us" : and : "We will never taste of sorrow"

For all of you

Don't you lose hope. God is still our source.

A personal perspective on me and financial difficulties in the past:

One time my own husband lost his job ( I was NOT working) we solely relied on his income coming in. This happened within a week of him receiving Jesus Christ as his Lord! I had already been saved early on in my life. What a test for him right out of the starting gate :)

He was in his mid twenties, I, in my early twenties, we had two small children.

God was who we turned to, my husband did his best to look for a job very quickly and God did the rest.

In less than 4 days he had a job and God gave us resources to get a home- not a fancy home, but God never promised us such either.

But that was in the early 90's. Things were somewhat different then and there were more jobs than now just in my personal opinion. But God changes not. There is no way he changes. The economy may change, WE will go through good times and bad, but he remains the same throughout eternity. What a comforting thought.

I know if my husband had not found a job, God would have done whatever it took for us to receive food, shelter and clothes on our back. We may not have really loved the conditions we would have to live under, but nonetheless, we would have been taken care of. Food, Shelter and Clothing, Those are the necessities according to the Word.

I do so pray that our President will re-think his decision to go to war with Iraq.

I personally feel as though we will go, or if we do not, something else will happen with Korea. Only God knows these things for sure.

May we all pray for the President as well as those whom he looks to for council.