www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Victory in Baghdad

Dear Cantor Joseph,

Your post indicates that you have much in common with G.K. Chesterton!

Congratulations!

Alex

Alex,

[blushing] Gee, thank you, but I don't really believe every man should own three acres and a cow. Can you imagine the pasture dance trying to walk down the street? I've led herds of cattle a few times from the fields and one must always watch for land mines (read: gastronomical notes from the cows). Watch that raised tail!

Here, bully, bully, bully, bully!!! Ha!

Joe Thur

Dear Cantor Joseph,

Never mind what others say - you are no bully!

A blessed Pascha to you and yours!

Alex

Dear Francisco,

At this point in time no one knows why Saddam Hussein did not use his chem/bio weapons. The answer will unfold in time.

The speculation is that Saddam's command structure was destroyed by U.S. cruise missiles and precision bombing early in the war and because of this there was neither the leadership nor communications technical ability to launch missiles or drone aircraft loaded with chem/bio weapons. Praise the Lord for that.

Osama's relationship to the Saudia Arabia government is not clear. We Americans are patient people. We will give that time too. Of course, Osama, himself is a hard core terorrist. A lot of resources are being spent to locate him and capture or kill him and his network.

Sincerely yours,

Paul

Today�s New York Times contains an editorial written by CNN chief news executive Eason Jordan that everyone who still thinks that this was an unjust war must read.

Excerpt:
Then there were the events that were not unreported but that nonetheless still haunt me. A 31-year-old Kuwaiti woman, Asrar Qabandi, was captured by Iraqi secret police occupying her country in 1990 for "crimes," one of which included speaking with CNN on the phone. They beat her daily for two months, forcing her father to watch. In January 1991, on the eve of the American-led offensive, they smashed her skull and tore her body apart limb by limb. A plastic bag containing her body parts was left on the doorstep of her family's home. (Click here to read editorial) [nytimes.com]

It is sad and horrible that innocents were killed during this war of liberation of the Iraqi people. We must pray for them and entrust them to the Lord�s care. However, far less innocent Iraqis were killed as part of this war than were typically tortured and murdered by Hussein in a given year. As the stories are told I find myself embarrassed that we, who call ourselves Christians, knowingly allowed this murderous dictator to do these things, especially for the last 12 years when we had the chance to remove him at the end of the Gulf War. We have much to answer for.

Peter,

Patience. The WMD will be found. Iraq is the size of California.
Saddam is a devious cookie. He kept them away from the UN for a decade.

The chemical weapons in Alabama are set for destruction, but sadly environmentalists are holding it up. They can't understand that the incinerator technology that will destroy the weapons is much safer that the chemical weapons themselves.

Sincerely,

Paul

Actually, we used to shout "butsy, butsy, butsy!" as we brought them in around the bunda.

And that is no bull.

God bless!
Joe

How strange of Saddam to equip his RG divisions with gas masks, special chem/bio warfare utility uniforms, and thousands upon thousands of syringes full of chem warfare antidote.

How strange to go to such trouble when--according to some in the media and on the internet--wmd are just an American illusion.

A very expensive 'illusion' Chemical Ali--of not so blessed memory--would say in his conversations with cousin Saddam, I'm sure.

We do know for certain, that the Saddamite regime used wmd on 5,000 Kurds--killed them all, even the village dogs--as well as on Iranian troops during the Iran-Iraq war. Thousands died. The only reason they did not use them on our troops is because even thugs are susceptible to the prudence produced by fear--the fear of American retribution and their personal demise. The same fear that prevents Usama bin Laden from exposing himself and doing any more than making verbal threats against an enemy he is too cowardly to confront personally.

This past and defunct Iraqi regime--from top to bottom--was nothing more than a regime of thugs. Since when have 'thugs' ever been known for bravery and courage? Never. In this context, they certainly have a great deal in common with the cowardly Usama, as well as the other contemporary master of thuggery and torture, Milosevic.

Sonny

Dear Francisco,

Probably for the same reason that Paris was not destroyed by the retreating German army in 1944. Hitler had ordered the destruction of the city, but the army officers did not carry out the order, because they were more decent men than their national leaders. Probably the same is true in Iraq.

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

Dear Friends,

I wonder how many of you have been out there in the trenches fighting for our country. Or have been representing your parrish in the Right for Life fight. Or could it be that the only time that you fight for change is on this fourm. I personally have stood on those lines and fought in two wars and continued to maintain the teachings of the church. In the first Gulf war I recieved a healthy dose of nerve agent and suffer to this day. In Somolia I have had fellow soldiers die in my arms. I have all the confidence in my elected leaders and can tell you that they have information that we will never know. So when they make their decisions they are much better informed. I can tell you that when you do get to the end results its really easy to understand why they made those decisions. From the sounds of some of the post you would want to start another crucade.So I think that my question to you is what are you doing to change the world?

Chad,

I honor you for your military service. It's because of men & women like you that the USA and others are free!

I do not like speaking of my activities because all glory goes to God.

President of my county Right to Life, Vice president of my state RTL. Prayers including the rosary with others that has shut down 2 abortion clinics.

I appreciate your questions. Being on this forum 1.5 years I'd say you'll find other committed
Christians here. Their stories must be inspiring.

God bless you,

Paul

I am currently watching the news here. I don't know if you have seen that there, but after Saddam's regime fell, people started sacking and plundering cities, the banks, the museums, private homes, stores, the embasies, and even the Sheraton Hotel!

Most of the scenes of peopel celebrating you cannot see so many people, people are at home afraid because thieves are entering the houses.

I just hope the troops of the United States, which have brought freedom to Iraq, bring some order too, this is a disaster. Or at least why don't they allow UN troops to go there as policemen? It's an enormous lack of charity to let people plundering, I think the UN can recover some credibility in the eyes of Americans, and Bush can get a lot of legitimacy in the eyes of the world if the UN troops go there.

Have a nice day

Do goats count? At least they have the courtesy of not "taking care of business" when you milk them. And that's no idle threat about the raised tail...you don't want those kind of pies.

I believe that the article that our Administrator contributed to this discussion, as well as some of the realistic comments listed here, give all the justification or "proof" that could possibly be needed, for the liberation of Iraq and the brave efforts of our coalition forces.

If for no other reason, the eradication of the spirit of fear and terror that was perpetuated by the Hussein regime through horrendous and unspeakable methods, particularly the pain and torture of other human beings, is reason enough that his brutal reign had to be put to an end.

I do not believe that God could be displeased in the least, that those of His people who were empowered to do so, felt it their "moral obligation" to say, "enough is enough - we cannot allow this abuse to continue another day - we will not let you suffer anymore." I surely hope that this message will be fully communicated to the Iraqi people, in the not always so balanced Arab press. However, deeds speak for themselves and many, as we have seen, are already grateful for what has occurred.

Yes, war is war and its consequences are unfortunate in terms of the human cost. However, to allow the desecration of human life to go on, by simply looking the other way or hoping that change will come through methods that have clearly failed or simply proven to be ineffective, is worse yet and can even be viewed as a means of enabling the suffering to continue.

I assure you all that those countries which opposed our efforts right up until the last moment, have their own self-serving reasons for doing so, which will clearly be revealed over the coming months. It is sad also, that whatever anticipated embarrassment or implications that contributed to their pathetic US bashing in front of the world community, were enough to cause the French, Germans and Russians to put their own interests over those of a people plagued with the most violent and unimaginable forms of suffering. They will have to account for their priorities, no doubt.

It is interesting that in the Book of Daniel, the one-time king of Babylonia, Nebuchadnezzar, is described as "oppressive - the worst in all the world." It will be read in our churches (Daniel 3: 1-56) during the Holy Saturday Vesper Divine Liturgy (Easter Vigil). In a sense, this was also prophetic in regards to the regime that has just come to an end.

Telling also, is the new tone these countries have used since the outcome of Iraq's liberation has begun to be manifested. Now of course, although unwilling to "pay the price" for the freedom of the Iraqi people, they wish to gain themselves from any future economic or political advantages to be had by the new situation. One should not reap the glory without first enduring the difficult and painful path that led to it.

May God continue to bless the people of Iraq and protect our troops. There is still much work to be done and many sacrifices to be made.

Fr. Joe