Avoiding Chaos or Causing Chaos

Once again I step into my civilian shoes for this post.

With the results of the new Iraq Study Group’s release of its findings the other day, it seems that the “situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating.” According to the ISG, the US government should “launch a new diplomatic offensive to build an international consensus” to create stability for Iraq. They also recommend that we open this “diplomatic offensive” by talking with Iran and Syria, two of the most influential external supporters, financiers and suppliers to various insurgent groups within Iraq. By now almost everyone has heard or read what the ISG has recommended in their report. This post is not to elaborate on the already publicized news, but to show that the people of Iraq and the nation of Iraq are only fodder for a greater political scheme for the left. The report is filled with recommendations that would spell defeat for the United States in the Global War on Terror and the ultimate ruin of Iraq. These true professional politicians are willing to write off, no, consciously destroy the nation of Iraq for their own personal political gain. Even the politicians in Iraq are screaming for us not to leave.

If we even so much as hint that we are willing to bow to the likes of Iran and Syria, they will claim victory and we will, to use a leftist term, lose all credibility in our ability and determination to carry out this Global War on Terror. If we begin talks with Iran, their price for assistance will be nuclear weapons. If we talk with Syria, they will want control of Lebanon. When this scenario is over, there will be a nuclear power in the middle-east in the form of the most anti-US and anti-Israel nation in the region. This is the very thing we wanted to deal with by going to Iraq in the first place. Second, Lebanon will be controlled by a dramatically anti-Semitic/anti-Israel country causing further chaos in the region. In less time then we have been in Iraq, if the government follows these recommendations, the region will deteriorate into a far worse condition then where it is today.

Remember the Day of Infamy

Just a reminder that today is Pearl Harbor day. It was 7 December, 1941, 65 years ago, that these pictures were taken. I hope that our government remembers that we finished that war.


The picture above is of the USS Shaw. This ship in particular was the ship that two of my closest friends' grandfather was on at the time of the attack. He survived and tells some pretty wild stories.

St Barbara's Day Ball

Julia and I went to our first formal event with 4-27 last night. It was the annual St Barbara's Day Ball. According to legend, St Barbara is the saint of the Field Artillery. I could explain the whole story behind her, but you could just look her up and it would explain everything. The ball itself is a ceremony used to induct certain soldiers who have shown their dedication the the Field Artillery into the Order of Saint Barbara. There was a dinner, live jazz band, a punch ceremony, awards ceremony and a guest speaker address by the 1st Armored Division Commanding General. Ultimately, its a time that FA soldiers celebrate being Field Artillery soldiers.


Julia and I went with another couple that we went to OBC with last year, Justin and Michelle. It was an enjoyable event that gave us the excuse to dress up. The best part of the evening was Julia in her formal gown.

Islam is Hedonism

I have voiced my difficulties working with Muslims and the faith of Islam. On several occasions, working with interpreters during my deployment, they have told me what the Imams are saying from the local mosques during Friday prayer. One such case recently presented me with an interesting observation. In this particular message, the Imam was teaching almost the exact opposite of what I and my family as Christians and what many others believe.

The Imam said in the midst of talking about the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, “Ramadan is a month to get close to allah. The way that you get close to allah is to do what makes you feel good about yourself.”

When I heard this, I had an epiphany. As Christians we presuppose that as humans, we are “fallen.” Many people would read the word “fallen” and not understand what it means to a Christian. To explain, I need to go through some other theological points. Another presupposition that Christians hold is that God created humankind in His image and initially without sin only to have humanity turn their back on God in sin. Everyone knows the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When they ate the fruit on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they then “fell” from God’s favor disobeying a direct commandment and He could no longer fellowship with man as he once did. Now this has significance because with that falling, humanity became basically evil. Human actions, apart from God, are motivated by a soul that is evil and without good. It is like a dark room. Darkness itself is only the absence of light just like human kind is, without God, evil. Even Jesus told his disciples they were a light to the world (Matt 5:14). The perfect verse is John 3:19, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” Ultimately man is free from good without God. So if you follow the teaching of this Imam to its extent, you get humans doing whatever they want that makes them feel good. Well if man is evil and loves darkness, then what he does to make him feel good is going to be evil. Logically that is not a good thing. So my epiphany is this: Islam is just the same old Hedonism (indulging in whatever the person desires as a way of life) that has been around since the beginning of man. Islam is just another face of it.