Katrina and the Coast Guard
Tide Water Muse blogs, "My sources tell me that the Coast Guard facility on Lake Pontchartrain has been looted. Evidently, the facility, recently commissioned, was evacuated...". The blog contains detailed info about the Coast Guard's work in the Gulf Coast region:
Where the Soldiers Are:
Providing Hurricane Relief in the Gulf Coast
Funny, isn't it, how we take for granted the help which U.S. military personnel give during times of natural disasters? Right now every branch of the U.S. military is involved in helping New Orleans and other hurricane-devastated regions. Military personnel are saving lives and helping in what one AP writer called the "biggest search-and-rescue operation in U.S. history". They are often performing dangerous work, so as you read through this list of how military personnel are helping, please pray for their safety:
- on Monday 1,200 people in the New Orleans area were rescued by members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
- on Tuesday an untold number of people, guessed to be in the thousands, were assisted by or rescued by Coast Guard troops who have been lifting them off roofs with helicopters, breaking through roofs to check for survivors, and going through the streets on boats.
- military personnel are helping evacuate hospitals and emergency shelters, including the Superdome
- the medical ship USNS Comfort left Baltimore for the Gulf region
- 300 people have been rescued by national Guard troops and police in Jefferson Parish (southwest of New Orleans).
- 7,500 mobilized National Guard members are distributing meals , water, and ice; providing medical help; cleaning up debris; helping law enforcement; establishing shelters; and providing medical care.
- soldiers are helping evacuate local hospitals, taking patients to hospitals in other regions, even other states
- Coast Guard equipment being used in this emergency includes Humvees, dump trucks, 5-ton trucks, tractor-trailers, generators, and lights.
- 40 Coast Guard aircraft from eastern seaboard units and 30 boats are involved in search, rescue and humanitarian aid operations, waterway impact assessments, and waterway reconstitution operations.
- the Army Corps of Engineers is helping to shore up levee breaks in New Orleans with enormous sandbags and concrete barriers, and removing debris.
- twin-rotored army helicopters will be used to drop 1,360-kilogram sandbags on the levee breach to try to stop water from flooding into New Orleans.
- Navy ships are on their way with water, food, and other supplies.
-- CNN reports that guardsmen helped with a prisoner uprising yesterday; earlier news reports had shown prisoners, evacuated from the prisons, sitting on the street just above water-level.
- the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which was established in '02 in support of homeland security, is helping FEMA with logistical support.
- Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama is serving as a relief supply staging area.
- military helicopter crews are flying FEMA assessment teams over the region to learn the extend of damage and determine how to distribute relief
-- on standby: thousands of National Guardsmen, ready to help when called upon.
In related news, Kessler AFB has sustained major damage from the hurricane: http://www.keesler.af.mil/
Links:
CNN report with photos of guardsmen at work: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/30/katrina/index.html
See the following report and photo of a guardsman helping a family: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050830/us_nm/weather_katrina_biloxi_dc_2
Just as I'd completed this post, I found that Mudville Gazette has a superb post on the same subject: http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/003462.html)
Pentagon coordinating aid: http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/08/31/D8CAS7SO0.html
Thoughts on a TDY in Gulfport: http://www.sgtstryker.com/
More Good News from Iraq
A round-up of good news from Iraq:
http://chrenkoff.blogspot.com/2005/08/good-news-from-iraq-part-34.html
Religion in the Air Force: Accommodated, Not Endorsed
The U.S. Air Force has released interim guidelines which discuss the need to accommode the expression of religion and non-religious viewpoints ("except as must be limited by military necessity") while not endorsing any specific religion: "Supervisors, commanders and leaders at every level bear a special responsibility to ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed as either official endorsement or disapproval of the decisions of individuals to hold particular religious beliefs or to hold no religious beliefs."
A New York Times reporter writes, "The guidelines discourage public prayers at official Air Force events or meetings other than worship services, one of the most contentious issues for many commanders. But they allow for 'a brief nonsectarian prayer' at special ceremonies like those honoring promotions, or in 'extraordinary circumstances' like 'mass casualties, preparation for imminent combat and natural disasters.'"
It will be interesting to see how these guidelines are implemented. For instance, if a troop loses 20 soldiers to enemy fire, will the commander feel free to pray at that time -- or will he wonder if, even then, it isn't appropriate? If an Air Force academy instructor mentions that cadets can attend services at the beautiful and inspiring chapel that is on academy grounds, and the head chaplain is a Christian, will that be seen as endorsing Christianity -- or just the base chapel?
No matter how these guidelines are implemented, Christian commanders and leaders in the Air Force are going to need an extraordinary amount of wisdom to both honor their country and honor their God.
(For related thoughts on this issue, see my posts of 4 August and 12 August.)
Links:
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123011470
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/national/30religion.html?th&emc=th
Editorial: http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_2987265
AIDS: Why Soldiers are More At-Risk
Have you heard the one about the soldier who goes in to a brothel....? Probably, or at least some variation of that joke. It's no secret that prostitution flourishes wherever military personnel take their leave around the world.
Visits to prostitutes are just one of the risk factors that account for the fact that military personnel around the world are more susceptible to HIV infection than civilians. Other factors include their age (they tend to be young and sexually active); other, non-prostitute related, opportunities for casual sex (remember the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman"?); being assigned away from their communities, and therefore feeling less accountability for their behavior; and the fact that military personnel are often are risk-takers by nature.
Most nations are trying to combat the spread of AIDS and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) among their armed forces by encouraging the use of condoms. (Cambodia, in fact, issues a special brand of condoms to its soldiers). Almost no one, other than Christians, is suggesting abstinence outside of marriage as a nearly fool-proof method of avoiding AIDS and other STDs. Abstinence is, by non-Christians, deemed unnecessarily restrictive, impossible to attain, and not even worthy of discussion. Among Christians it is held up as the ideal -- but it is still often a losing battle.
There are no easy answers for military Christians in this area; many Christians in the military, though, believe strongly in the "buddy system" -- having at least one other Christian on their ship or where they are stationed to whom they are accountable. They meet for regular prayer and Bible study, and often spend their free time together. Others put a lot of effort and planning into ways to avoid tempations -- for instance, Christian sailors have arranged to meet indigenous military Christians when they take shore leave. When they return to their ships, they don't have brothel-stories to share, but can instead talk about meeting local people and participating in the local culture.
The area of sexual purity is just one reason why peer-based, indigenous military ministry is so vital for military Christians. Without that fellowship and accountability, the pressure to succumb to non-Christian attitudes about sex can result in devastation on so many levels.
(Related thoughts: Through World Magazine's blog I found this review of a book on sex and Christ's supremacy ... http://grovecity.worldmagblog.com/grovecity/archives/017040.html. Looks to be an interesting and much-needed book.)
Links: AIDS and the military
Preventing AIDS in Africa's Soldiers: http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol15no1/aidsmil.htm
Combating AIDS in Thailand's Forces: http://www.aegis.com/news/ips/2004/IP040728.html
AIDS in the Military: http://www.worldwatch.org/live/discussion/70/
Jamaica - Hit Hard: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050821/focus/focus1.html
India's Battle: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=14119&Cr=hiv&Cr1=aids
South Africa's Situation: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A78127
Russian Bibles for Russian Soldiers
Russian military Christians (members of the RMCU) are planning to distribute 50,000 New Testaments to soldiers and officers in Russia. For information on this goal and their other ministry activities, visit the English-language version of their website at http://www.rmcu.ru/index.php?lang=en.
How a Nazi Soldier Found Hope
"God weeps with us so that we may someday laugh with him." - Jurgen Moltmann
How can a soldier have hope when he has seen the worst that this world has to offer? Jurgen Moltmann, a German draftee in WWII, found his hope in Christ and turned into one of this century's reknowned theologians.
Philip Yancey recently met with Mr. Moltmann, who is known for his writings on two themes: God's presence with us during suffering, and the promise of heaven, a perfect eternity.
Yancey writes, "After surrending to the British, the young soldier [Moltmann] spent the next three years in prison camps...as he learned the truth about the Nazis, Moltmann felt an inconsolable grief about life, 'weighed down by the somber burden of a guilt which could never be paid off.'"
A U.S. chaplain gave Moltmann a Bible, and in reading it "Moltmann found words that perfectly captured his feelings of desolation. He became convinced that God 'was present even behind the barbed wire -- no, most of all behind the barbed wire.'"
Link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/009/20.120.html
Who are the real experts on Iraq?
Day by Day Cartoon has, for the last couple days, been taking on the media's coverage of Iraq -- I suggest starting with the 26 August cartoon and moving forward: http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/Default.aspx
Hurricane Katrina: How Soldiers are Helping
As Hurricane Katrina ravages Louisiana, 5,000 men and women in the U.S. National Guard are:
- providing security at the Superdome, where many New Orleans residents are hunkered down
- preparing to pump water out of New Orleans and remove debris
- distributing water, ice, and food
- sandbagging coastal areas
- standing by with helicopters and medical personnel as needed.
- providing logistical support.
Link:
http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=7812
More Military Maneuvers that Won't Make the News
Russia and China have now ended their joint military exercises, which will come as a surprise to most Americans who never heard a thing about those exercises from the media.
Here's something else they probably won't hear about -- but should: in October Russia and India will hold joint anti-terrorist military exercises, and a senior Russian defence ministry official hints that war games involving all three nations may be in the future.
Link:
http://www.gg2.net/viewnews.asp?nid=2966&tid=breaking_news&catid=Breaking%20News
Why Soldiers Fight
The true soldier fights,
not because he hates what is in front of him,
but because he loves what is behind him.
~G. K. Chesterton
Gates of Fire
Michael Yon's latest mesmerizing report and photos from Iraq is entitled, "Gates of Fire": http://www.michaelyon.blogspot.com/
Strategic Military Partnerships Develop; U.S. Media Sleeps
"China and Russia have reached an unprecedented height in their strategic partnership," comments Chinese news agency Xinhua. Russia and China have now completed their joint military drills -- drills which were almost completely ignored by the U.S. media.
In addition to their shared concern over U.S. activities in their regions, China and Russia are also concerned about the turmoil in neighboring Central Asia nations, especially Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Interestingly, today Uzbekistan's parliament affirmed the Uzbek government's order that the U.S. withdraw its troops from their nation. (Currently U.S. troops are using an Uzbek air base as a base for anti-terrorism operations in Afghanistan.) Kyrgyzstan went a different route -- in July they agreed to continue allowing the U.S. to use it's military bases.
One wonders why reporters aren't all over these stories like white on rice.
Links:
Russia/China: http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/08/26/MTFH15667_2005-08-26_06-57-49_DIT625013.html
Uzbekistan: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/08/26/uzbek.us.ap/index.html
Kyrgyzstan: http://news.ft.com/cms/s/af1e6ff0-fdcb-11d9-a289-00000e2511c8.html
Burundi's Born-Again President
Burundi's new democratically-elected president, Pierre Nkurunziza, is a born-again Christian whose faith is vital to his leadership role. "I like to pray because prayers have helped us during war. I used to ask my colleagues in war to pray much, and I was leading the prayers, because myself I am coming from a family of believers," he told a Reuters reporter.
Nkurunziza's military ties run deep. He had previously taught at Burundi's military academy, ISCAM, and those ties helped him during his time as a guerilla. He vows to honor the peace accord which ended his nation's 12-year civil war and continue his fight for reconciliation.
300,000 people died during the civil war years, including Nkurunziza's father and two brothers. He himself barely escaped death by Tutsi soldiers (this despite the fact that his mother was a Tutsi). It's hoped that a solid peace and democracy in Burundi will help stabililize the central region of Africa, which includes Rwanda, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Tanzania, and Sudan.
Links:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/08/26/burundi.president.reut/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4162504.stm
In-depth analysis: http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?
Work as Worship
...yes, even the Business of Soldiering
Too many times we Christians equate "worship" with Sunday mornings in church. A military Christian from Singapore reminds us that every activity in our day -- even work -- should be worship: "We work or build because of the imprint of the Creator in our souls...fellow Christians, let's try to make everything in our lives an enjoyable 'worship experience'...Let's look at work positively. More importantly, look at it as a means whereby God can be glorified through us."
We the People of Iraq
Iraq's new draft constitution starts with these beautiful words:
"We the people of Iraq, newly arisen from our disasters and looking with confidence to the future through a democratic, federal, republican system, are determined _ men and women, old and young _ to respect the rule of law, reject the policy of aggression, pay attention to women and their rights, the elderly and their cares, the children and their affairs, spread the culture of diversity and defuse terrorism."
An opinion piece posted today by Wall Street Journal editors praises the constitution and the work that has been done on it: "[Iraq's] draft constitution, which appears headed for parliamentary approval tonight, reflects a remarkable spirit of compromise--and even enlightenment--among the country's political, ethnic and religious factions."
Links:
WSJ Editorial: http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007157
Partial text of the constitution: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/23/AR2005082300962.html
On the Closing of U.S. Bases
Peggy Noonan thinks that the U.S. military isn't thinking "dark" enough -- someday we may need those bases that are being closed:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110007154
She Rants, You Decide:
Is the Media Biased?
Turns out there's an entire blog dedicated to one of my favorite subjects -- "the media's coverage on the war on terror". Check out the Ranting Professor at:
Civilians and Military Personnel -- Closing the Gap
In the last six years, civilians in the U.S. have grown less confidence in both the military and media, according to a recent poll. Hugh Hewitt believes that one of the best ways to change that is through military-related blogs. In 2004 he wrote, "The ability of the civilian world to access the news and views of the military directly is a sea-change in media. At the conclusion of his wonderful 1998 book, Making the Corps, Washington Post writer Thomas Ricks worried aloud about the increasing distance between the civilian and military worlds, and the divergence in the values of both. Part of that problem was that the world of the warrior was increasingly remote from ordinary Americans who don't have much contact with the military. MILBLOGS ARE CHANGING THAT CONDITION, and having other far-reaching effects as well."
Here are some of the blogs Hewitt recommends:
http://www.mudvillegazette.com/
http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com/
If only there was more time in the day -- all these blogs make excellent reading.
Link to the public opinion poll: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/northamerica/article_1043490.php/Public_confidence_in_military_media_falls
Road-building in Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, an international group of soldiers have been building a road to connect two towns in Afghanistan -- a goodwill effort which Taliban insurgents do not appreciate and have tried to undermine.
The "Road to Democracy" article (linked below) is a story of that road, written by 1LT Laura Walker. Last week 1LT Walker and a fellow soldier were killed in Afghanistan when a bomb exploded under their Humvee. Her article and photos will give you an idea why so many U.S. soldiers are impassioned about what they are doing in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Links:
Road to Democracy: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Route-to-Democracy&id=54419
1Lt. Walker Eulogy http://www.west-point.org/users/usma2003/60262/
Indonesia: Religious Persecution and a Maligned Military
Since the mid-to-late 90s Indonesia, the world's 4th most populous nation, has seen ongoing Muslim persecution against Christians (and some Christian-against-Muslim violence). Now Asia News is reporting that the president of the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia is asking the Islamic Defender Front to stop persecuting Christians.
Indonesia's military personnel are often reviled by civilians. Historically, the nation's armed forces have often been used to support political purposes rather than just provide national security. They have been accused of standing by as Christians were persecuted, and last week Australian researchers accused them of systemically raping and torturing civilians in the Papua province.
Light in a Dark World: In 2005 the small group of military Christians in Indonesia provided financial support to military families who lost their wage earners in the December 2004 tsunami. They pray that their support and love, given in Christ's name, will help open doors for a work of God's Holy Spirit in their violence-ridden land.
Links:
Leader's Call to End Persecution: http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=3962
World 's blog comments: http://www.worldmagblog.com/blog/
Indonesia's military accused of torture: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1440684.htm
Religious Tolerance in Indonesia: http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_indon.htm
Nigeria's Compulsory Military Service
Good News for God's Kingdom?
According to www.allafrica.com, Nigeria will implement compulsory military service to help it deal with world-wide terrorism and national ethnic conflicts.
This has the potential of being good news for the Kingdom of God -- Nigeria has an active group of military Christians who have a true zeal for evangelism. The Nigerian Military Christian Fellowship was formed in 1984, and encourages Bible study and prayer among the Nigerian military society as well as being "an instrument through which members of the military society are led to commit their lives to Jesus Christ."
Several other military Christian groups around the world, notably South Korea and Singapore, have had very successful ministries to their nations' conscripts. It will be interesting to see how the Nigerian Christians develop their own outreach once mandatory service begins.
Hey, Soldier -- Thanks for Keeping our Freedom Intact...Now Leave.
Ukraine celebrates its 14th anniversary of independence today. For the first time, however, the celebrations do not include the traditional military parade. Ukraine's prime minister had previously told the AP, "There is so much aggression in our life that we should mark the Independence Day with concerts and happiness" instead of a display of military prowess.
Talk about your thankless service -- surely Ukraine's independence couldn't be kept without an army ready to defend it. Couldn't the holiday have included "concerts and happiness" while also saying thanks to the men and women who serve Ukraine?
It's probably a moot point, though. My guess is that a good many of Ukraine's soldiers would prefer to be at home celebrating with their families rather than walking a long, hot parade route.
Link:
Sins of the Media
Powerline discusses the media's role in covering the Iraq war, naming some of their "sins of omission":
1) not reporting on progress;
2) not discussing the war from a tactical/strategic perspective; and,
3) not discussing the overarching strategic reasons for involvement in Iraq.
John writes, "We are conducting an experiment never before seen, as far as I know, in the history of the human race. We are trying to fight a war under the auspices of an establishment that is determined--to put the most charitable face on it--to emphasize American casualties over all other information about the war."
Casey Sheehan, Soldier of Faith
Casey Sheehan, whose mother has become famous for her war protest, was a soldier with an active faith in God. He had been a strong member of his church's youth group, and had just returned from Mass when he volunteered to go on the mission which would cost him his life.
Link:
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2005/08/army_specialist.html
A Marine's Mom Comments about the War, the President, and Death
The blog, Winefred's Well, has a long but good post from a Marine's mom who doesn't agree with Cindy Sheehan's characterizations of the war in Iraq, but who has her own criticisms of President Bush. Before concluding her post, Winefred touches on a deeper issue that is confronting many Americans: "Cindy Sheehan is part of only the second generation in human history for whom the death of children, small children, has not been a normal occurrence. (And this novelty is still limited to the developed world.) She is of the baby-boom generation whose parents succeeded alarmingly well in raising their children within a bubble of innocence, unprecedented prosperity, achievable self-indulgence, and postponed psychological maturity...Many of us are not programmed to accept death, anyone’s at any age."
Hat Tip: www.relapsedcatholic.com
Link:http://winefredswell.blogspot.com/2005/08/where-cindy-sheehan-and-i-meet-and.html
Israel: Testing a Battalion's Humanity
Today's Opinion Journal website features an eloquent editorial written by an Israeli soldier who worked through the Gaza pullout. Michael Oren, a reservist, writes, "The severest test of the battalion's fortitude--and humaneness--occurred in Badolah's synagogue, where the settlers were afforded an hour of parting prayer. But after two hours waiting in the blistering sun, the soldiers decided to enter. The scene that greeted them was shocking: settlers clutching the pews, the Ark and the Torah scrolls, or writhing on the floor. The troops tried to comfort them, only to break down themselves, and soon soldiers and settlers were embracing in mutual sorrow and consolation. Ultimately, the settlers were either escorted or carried, sobbing, onto buses.
"But their rabbi, stressing the need for closure, requested permission to address the soldiers, and the battalion commander remarkably agreed. So it happened that 500 troops and 100 settlers stood at attention, with Israeli flags fluttering, while the rabbi spoke of the importance of channeling this sorrow into the creation of a more loving and ethical society. 'We are all still one people, one state,' he said. Together, the evicted and the evictors, then sang 'Hatikvah,' the national anthem--'The Hope.'"
Link:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007146
Missing in Action (Still):
Chinese/Russian Joint Operations
Still missing from MSM's news coverage: the Chinese/Russian joint military exercises, which are now in their final stages.
CNN, MSNBC, ABC News -- none of them felt the story was important enough to put on the "cover page" of their websites today. However, you can still learn tremendously important news from main stream media. For instance, Olivia Newton-John's boyfriend is missing, a nun got in trouble for provocative dancing, and Jennifer and Brad truly are getting a divorce.
Maybe I'm just beating a dead horse here. Maybe most of America is very satisfied with the type of news coverage we are being fed. Maybe it really isn't important that two of the world's most powerful nations are cooperating in unprecedented and new ways. Maybe, but I don't think so.
Link:
http://www.drudgereport.com/
Conquering Warrior Rage
Bob Flynn of Christian Military Fellowship writes: "Marriage has always been one of the chief casualties of military service. In times of war the stresses on this God-ordained institution can only be compounded. Anxiety mounts both for the loved one, who is afar off, and for those who have remained behind. Then when the warrior returns home from the battle it is soon discovered that they are not the same person that left in answer to the call of country.
"One of the unfortunate facts of war is that the effects of mortal combat do not stop when the warrior leaves the battle field...According to the American Psychological Association, 'Anger is a natural, adaptive response to threats; it inspires powerful, often aggressive, feelings and behaviors, which allow us to fight and to defend ourselves when we are attacked.' The problem is the warrior may bring this anger home with him even though the threat is no longer present. Warrior to warrior let me say this: This kind of anger can only be quenched on Jesus’ breast! The most profound prayer I have ever prayed was, 'Jesus help me!'"
Link:
http://cmf.com/Christian_Report/Christian_Report.htm -- choose "September newsletter" PDF
U.S. Soldiers -- "Poor Moppets"?
(I suggest you don't tell them that!)
If anti-war critics in the U.S. want to be heard, they need to focus on legitimate arguments rather than insulting America's soldiers.
Columnist Mark Steyn writes, "Ever since America's all-adult, all-volunteer army went into Iraq, the anti-war crowd have made a sustained effort to characterize them as 'children'...The infantilization of the military promoted by the left is deeply insulting to America's warriors but it suits the anti-war crowd's purposes. It enables them to drone ceaselessly that 'of course' they 'support our troops,' because they want to stop these poor confused moppets from being exploited by the Bush war machine."
I wonder how many war critics would have the nerve to walk onto a base full of U.S. soldiers and tell them they were really just "naive" and were being exploited by Bush? I doubt many would -- either for fear of being kicked off the base (by some very large, muscular, not-very-childlike soldiers), or for fear of being laughed off the base. Either response would be appropriate to the theory that our men (and women) in arms didn't know what they were getting into.
Hat tip: Instapundit.com
Link:
"The Sun Rises in Christ," Fallen Soldier's Dad Says
Lance Cpl. Nicholas Bloem died in Iraq on 3 August, one day after turning 20. World Magazine quotes his father, Al Bloem, as saying, "There is a price that must be paid to do the things that need to be done to ensure peace in our time...Throughout this pain that we're going through, one thing has been foremost in our minds: The sun rises in Christ."
I've often wondered how non-Christians deal with death. Do they believe in life after death, or do they believe that their loved one has ceased to exist in any form? This soldier's family, at least, knows the truth: the sun rises in Christ -- our hope is in Christ.
Israel's Soldiers and Civilians, Praying Together
As I mentioned last week, the Israeli soldiers pictured in the Gaza pullout seemed very young, making me think that many of them were conscripts fulfilling Israel's mandatory military service.
This morning CNN reports that "Jewish settlers sang, danced and prayed with Israeli soldiers Monday in preparation for their evacuation...".
It's such a beautiful picture to think of those soldiers and settlers choosing to be at peace with each other and to be reconciled, rather than letting bitterness rule. Most of the soldiers, I'm sure, will never forget the events they witnessed and took part in at Gaza. I wonder, though, if they will be like many WWII-era soldiers, who simply couldn't discuss their experiences with their families -- even 50 years later -- because of the deep emotions those experiences still brought up.
Racial Tensions in WWII
The Washington Post today carries a story about the famous Tuskegee airmen of World War II, which brought to mind a situation which ACCTS' founder, Cleo "Buck" Buxton, was caught up in during WWII. As a second lieutenant, Buck served at a camp which moved men overseas to battle areas. Buck wrote, "The posts were still racially segregated in those days, and late one Sunday afternoon an altercation between white and black soldiers started over who had access to a post-exchange. Shortly, with the MPs trying to break up the fight, shots rang out."
"The word spread quickly that there was a race riot. We could hear sporadic fighting, and the ribal remarks and the lack of respect for the value of a man's life among those officers amazed me. They were getting out their pistols, each apparently to bring vengeance upon the black soldiers."
By the time Buck entered the scene, all order had broken down. "The scene was one of reckless abandon as the men moved into the segregated black area, shooting at anything that might be a target." Several officers on the scene were actually urging the men on. Buck, wearing fatigues with no rank insignia (which, he points out, was probably "just as well" given the circumstances!) , ordered the men to stop handing out ammunition. "Then I called for six men from the crowd to see that all men were disarmed." Sadly, several men had already been killed. Looking back on the situation, Buck quoted Edmund Burke: "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to triumph in the world is for enough good men to do nothing."
(Buck Buxton fought as an infantry officer in the 34th Division throught the North African and Italian campaigns in World War II. The 34th Infantry Division had one of the longest combat records of any American division in the war, and Buck was one of its most experienced combat officers. He received the Purple Heart three times and was awarded five combat decorations. For several months he commanded a ranger-type unit which fought behind enemy lines. )
Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/19/AR2005081900215.html
Soldiers: Smarter than You Think
Many years ago my inner pacifist died a humiliating death when faced with the stark reality of living in a sinful world. Now blogger Scott Randolph says his inner Democrat committed suicide this morning after listening to one more anti-war person whine. After hearing someone claim that soldiers were "naive" when they enlisted, Mr. Randolph writes,
"Guess what folks….they [U.S. soldiers] signed up to join the Army, not the boy scouts. Anytime your orientation to a new job involves an automatic weapon, you should be smart enough to figure out there’s danger involved...Soldiers know, when they enlist, that it is entirely possible they will be shipped out and never come home. It’s part of the job. The fact that people still walk in to recruiters’ offices and sign that piece of paper make them heroes. To imply that they are simple kids who didn’t know what they were getting into, or even worse, that they died for no reason, or an immoral reason, does a horrible thing. It strips their sacrifice of the honor that it deserves...long story short, we can’t end this war now...We are there, and we have a job to finish."
I'd love to quote his whole post, but suggest instead you go on over to his site:
http://www.scottrandolph.net/2005/08/17/cindy-sealed-the-deal/
The Biteback Effect
Victor Davis Hanson, journalist for National Review Online, has some interesting comments on war critics: "I’ll call it the 'biteback effect.' Every time one hears a strident censor bring up a purported American sin, expect that he’ll be bitten right back by proving the opposite of what he intended — and looking foolish in the bargain."
I think Hanson is overstating his case against war critics. America's leaders are not infallible, and there is a place for reasoned thinking on these issues; however, his article is definitely worth the read.
Link:
http://victorhanson.com/articles/hanson081905.html.
China and Russia, Part II
Here are links to news articles about the Chinese/Russian military exercises:
Links:
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/08/19/chineseus.shtml
A history of China's co-operative military exercises with foreign nations: http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/19/content_470361.htm
Taipei Times take on the situation: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front?pubdate=2005-08-19
CNN says: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/08/18/china.russia.military.ap/index.html
When Bad Aim is Good
An al Qaeda-linked group is claiming responsibility for rockets being fired at two U.S. military ships docked off of Jordan. Blessedly, the rockets missed the ships. The attack comes despite the fact that, earlier this month, Jordan had arrested 17 al-Qaeda linked militants who planned to attack U.S. troops and Jordanian agents.
Links:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/19/jordan.blasts/index.html
4 August arrests: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/terror/20050804-1853-jordan-terrorplot.html
POWs Released: A round of applause for "intense diplomatic efforts", please!
CNN reports, "Western Sahara's exiled Polisario Front independence movement has released all of its remaining Moroccan prisoners of war -- a total of 404...Some of the prisoners had been held since the 1970s."
The White House states that the release came about because of "quiet and intense diplomatic efforts among the United States, Morocco and Algeria...The humanitarian success was achieved in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross."
Psalm 146:7 "He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free." (NIV)
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/08/18/morocco.release/index.html
More on Mauritania
Earlier this month we posted on the 3 August coup in Mauritania. Today blogger Donald Crankshaw has several informative links relating to the coup. Among other things, Crankshaw notes that the former president, who himself seized power in a coup, had "emptied his military of black Africans" in the 90s. Mauritania, whose official name is Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is approximately 70% Arabic and 30% Black African.
The former president of Mauritania had committed his nation to helping coalition forces in the war on terror, and U.S. troops have even trained Mauritanian forces. Crankshaw admits that coup leaders "don't often make a successful transition to democracy". but also believes that "democracy has a better chance of happening under it than it did under Taya."
Link:
http://www.donaldscrankshaw.com/posts/1124281578.shtml
Smells Like Team Spirit:
Chinese/Russian Military Exercises
In the current blitz of American-media news coverage about high gas prices and Cindy Sheehan's campout in Texas, a tremendously important story is being overlooked: the joint military exercises of China and Russia. According to Allen T. Cheng at bloomberg.com, those exercises are "an eight-day event symbolizing their improved ties since the Cold War and their growing influence in a world...Russia, the world's biggest country, is the biggest supplier of arms and weapons technology to China, the most populous nation."
The military movements of two of the world's most powerful countries deserve to be covered more in America's media. In the end, oil prices will continue to vary and campouts will end, but major military events get written about in the history books.
LINKS:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=agXw5Q9IIKAQ&refer=japan
Chinese Military Information: http://www.chinatoday.com/arm/
Russian Military Information: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rs.html
Hiroshima and Terrorism in the News
Christianity Today's blog links to two interesting articles today:
- an opinion piece about Hiroshima, in which the author states, "Choosing between the lesser of evils is clearly what U.S. leaders were faced with, and whenever we do that collectively or individually, we must ask for God’s forgiveness and grace."
- an opinion piece on terrorism in God's name: "The worst sin is committing evil in God's name...anyone who attaches the name of God to evil is not only committing an act of evil, he is subverting the only hope for spreading goodness on Earth — belief in a good God who demands goodness. If there is moral anarchy when God is removed from morality, imagine what ensues when God is identified with evil."
Links:
Christianity Today: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/133/21.0.html
Hiroshima: http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=199492&pub=1&div=Opinion
Terrorism in God's name: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-prager14aug14,1,261329.story
The Morality of Combat Killing
A universal issue facing military personnel, regardless of what country they serve, is the guilt and stress that can haunt them after they have killed someone in combat.
According to an article in today's Wall Street Journal, American military officers are begining to address combat guilt by having frank discussions about the morality of killing and the effects it can have on soldiers.
Much of Greg Jaffe's article in the Journal focuses on the writings of Major Peter Kilner, whose thoughts on combat morality and killing have garnered significant attention from his peers. In his paper entitled "Military Leaders’ Obligation to Justify Killing in War”, Major Kilner states, "American military leaders have been very successful in their task to create combat-effective units. In response to the War Department’s World War II research that revealed that less than 25% of riflemen fired their weapons in combat, the military instituted training techniques—such as fire commands, battle drills, and realistic marksmanship ranges--that resulted in much improved combat firing rates...This improved combat effectiveness has come at a cost to soldiers’ welfare. The training techniques that leaders have employed to generate the remarkable advances in combat firing rates have resulted in increased rates of post-combat psychological trauma among combat veterans."
Kilner then argues, "...military leaders’ important and legitimate role—that of transforming civilians into combat soldiers who are able to kill in defense of their country--carries with it the obligation to help their soldiers cope with the moral repercussions of their actions. Since military leaders train their soldiers in the skills required to kill others in combat, they owe it to them to train them as well in the skills required to live with themselves in the years after combat."
Links:
Kilner: http://atlas.usafa.af.mil/jscope/JSCOPE00/Kilner00.html
Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/public/us (subscribers only)
Iraq: All the News That's Fit to Print
Many U.S. troops in Iraq have expressed frustration with the constant flow of negative media coverage. Arthur Chrenkoff at opinionjournal.com agrees, stating, "The question is not whether bad things happening in Iraq should be reported back home [in the U.S.] --they should, and there are clearly many of them, a fact that no one is denying--but whether positive developments should also receive the media's attention. Judging by the coverage, the media's answer seems to be, not very often."
To make up for the imbalance, Chrenkoff links to a wonderfully long list of articles highlighting positive developments in Iraq's society, economy, reconstruction, humanitarian aid work, coaliation troop impact, and security.
Despite the good news from Iraq, violence continues to claim the lives of innocent Iraqi men, women, and children. CNN reports that at least 43 people were killed and 88 wounded in bombings carried out today by insurgents.
Related Links:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007113
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05227/551933.stm
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/17/iraq.violence/index.html
The Politics of Grief
"In America and Britain, the grief of parents who lost sons or daughters in Iraq has become a potent political weapon - much more so than in other recent wars," opines British journalist Brendan O'Neill at the Christian Science Monitor. "In my view, these moms and dads have been badly let down by both sides of the war debate. The war's authors have offered little justification for the sacrifices made by loved sons and daughters in Iraq, which has allowed the families' raw grief to fester into public anger - and the war's opponents have sought cynically to exploit the families' sorrow for political ends."
What role should national and military leaders play in helping families grieve? Are they doing enough, or should they move beyond what is required of them in supporting these families?
Israeli Soldiers in the Gaza Strip: Seeing the Mission to Its End
One-minute news clips never show the full picture of a situation -- let alone a situation as intense as the Israeli pullout in the Gaza Strip. Even so, a brief story on World News Tonight caught my attention simply by the sheer amount of self-control I saw exhibited by the Israeli soldiers. While civilians shouted (even using terms such as "Nazi") and shoved them, they stood stoically, avoiding eye contact as they had been trained to do, and showing little visible emotion.
Israel has mandatory military service for both men and women which begins at age 18. All the soldiers I saw last night seemed very young, making me think they were conscripts, and yet they seemed well-trained and disciplined.
The Israeli military commander, in a letter given to the soon-to-be evicted civilians, states, "...This is a difficult situation for us all. The IDF and the Israeli police share in the sorrow and pain you are feeling and expressing. Nevertheless we will see this mission to its end, while providing any possible help and assistance."
Israel's current batch of conscripts happen to be serving at an incredibly historic, and dangerous, point in their nation's history. They are doing what their nation requires of them, whether they agree with the withdrawal or not. Pray for them today as they face more challenges and dangers. Pray for their safety, and for the safety of the civilians involved in this situation.
Links:
Gaza Strip withdrawal: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4155184.stm
Israeli army information: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/army.htm
Israeli military letter to evictees:http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-letter16aug16,1,6916062.story?coll=la-headlines-world
Today in Military History: Japan Surrenders
60 years ago today Japan surrendered to Allied Forces. A 1945 article from the BBC (see link below) stated, "Historic buildings all over London are floodlit and throngs of people have crowded onto the streets of every town and city shouting, singing, dancing, lighting bonfires and letting off fireworks."
U.S. President Harry Truman is quoted as saying, "This is the day we have been waiting for since Pearl Harbor. This is the day when Fascism finally dies, as we always knew it would." Japanese Emperor Hirohito focused his comments on the possible death of the nation of Japan, not Fascism: "Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in the ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation but would lead also to the total extinction of human civilisation."
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/15/newsid_3581000/3581971.stm
Hitler's Leadership vs. Servant-Leadership
The BBC takes a look at Hitler as a military leader in a 2003 article written by Geoffrey Megargee. Dr. Megargee states that some of Hitler's shortcomings as a leader include:
- appointing himself into positions of power.
- refusal to heed expert advice.
- ignorance of the issues and over-reliance on instinct.
- lack of an effective strategy (the war's timing, goals, etc.).
Hitler's style is in direct contract to Christ's leadership model -- that of being a servant-leader. Larry C. Spears, the CEO of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, writes, "We are experiencing a rapid shift ... away from the more traditional autocratic and hierarchical models of leadership and toward servant-leadership as a way of being in relationship with others. Servant-leadership seeks to involve others in decisionmaking, is strongly based in ethical and caring behavior, and it enhances the personal growth of workers while improving the caring and quality of organizational life." Spears writes about ten main principles of servant leadership: listening, emphathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, committing to the growth of people, and community-building.
Links:
Hitler's Leadership Style: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/hitler_commander_01.shtml
Servant leadership:
http://ocf.gospelcom.net/pubs/ed_servant_leaders.php
http://www.milmin.com/resources/core/continuing/coreleadership.htm
http://www.greenleaf.org/leadership/read-about-it/Servant-Leadership-Articles-Book-Reviews.html
Vowing to Never Take the Path of War
According to CNN, this morning the Prime Minister of Japan "apologized for his country's role in World War II on the 60th anniversary of the war's end, and vowed Japan would never again take 'the path to war.'"
Apologies have tremendous impact in resolving conflicts -- more national leaders would be wise to follow Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's example. Yet, is it wise for a nation's leader to vow never to go to war? It seems a sad fact that wars must sometimes happen. If, for instance, one nation invades another, shouldn't the invaded nation fight? Or should they acquiesce and say, "Anything -- even no freedom or self-rule -- is better than war."?
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/08/15/pacific.victoryday/index.html
A Tale of Two Grieving Parents
An American father whose son was killed in Iraq rode his Harley across the country to attend his son's unit's homecoming: "I don't have any sort of agenda. I guess I want to thank his brothers for being there for him, and thank his friends for being his friends," John Prazynski said.
In contrast to Mr. Prazynski, Cindy Sheehan (the mother who is camped outside of the Bush ranch) seems to have alienated herself from anything to do with her son's military service. James Taranto of www.opinionjournal.com rounds up several links to articles about Cindy Sheehan, including this quote from her: "America has been killing people . . . since we first stepped on this continent, we have been responsible for death and destruction. I passed on that bull**** to my son and my son enlisted. I'm going all over the country telling moms: 'This country is not worth dying for.'"
Links:
Grieving father: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/15/marine.father.ap/index.html
Taranto on Sheehan: http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110007110
Lileks on Sheehan: http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/lileks081705.html
Kenya's Military: Reknowned for their Discipline
Kenya's new Military Chief of Staff, General Jeremiah Kianga, will face many obstacles in his new position, writes journalist Mwenda Njoka in an opinion piece for allafrica.com. Among those challenges will be "addressing the question of a military budget that is never quite adequate but is nevertheless viewed by taxpapers as being excessive." (Sound familiar?!)
Despite the challenges, General Kianga has a tremendous asset working for him: Kenya's highly-disciplined soldiers. Mr. Njoka writes, "Kenyan military is today regarded by military experts as one comprised of some of the most disciplined professional soldiers in the region."
In addition to having a highly-regarded military, Kenya is also blessed to have a strong and well-established group of military Christians who worship together and reach their co-workers for Christ. "A focused ministry to the military is changing Africa," says Major G. Muturi of the MCF of Kenya at the Accts MMI website (see link below).
In most nations in Africa there are military Christians working to change their countries and their continent with Christ's hope. With all the trouble Africa's military forces have presented their continent, there is also tremendous hope to be found -- and much of that hope lies in the hands of Africa's military Christians.
Links:
Kenya's New Military COS: http://allafrica.com/stories/200508120047.html
Accts MMI: http://www.acctsmmi.com/africa.html
General Fired For Adultery
After 36 years of military service, U.S. Army General Kevin Byrnes was fired after having an affair while he was separated from his wife. (Adultery is a crime under U.S. military law.) Ironically, General Byrnes was fired on the same day his divorce became final.
According to Wikipedia, adultery in the military "is a court-martialable offense only if it was 'to the prejudice of good order and discipline' or 'of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces'."
The military's use of disciplinary action for adultery may cause a mix of guffaws and disbelief among many adults. Being fired for adultery?? It's almost unheard of. But beyond those reactions, perhaps many people will also be glad to know that someone still takes adultery seriously.
Links:
General Byrnes http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-08-10-general-romance_x.htm
Adultery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adultery
World magazine blog on Byrnes' adultery: http://www.worldmagblog.com/blog/
Respectful Grieving
In America we're fond of saying, "Hey, it's a free country. Everyone has a right to express their opinion." Which is true, thank God -- we enjoy tremendous freedoms. But where is the line drawn between expressing our own opinions and disrespecting others?
Drudge has published a statement from the family of Cindy Sheehan, the mother who is protesting outside of President Bush's ranch. The statement reads: "The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect."
Is Cindy Sheehan unknowingly disrespecting her son's "good name and reputation", as the family statement implies? And what about the people who actually killed her son? While Mrs. Sheehan states that George Bush killed her son, Casey Sheehan died when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire in Baghdad. I have to wonder if, in the gut-wrenching grief Mrs. Sheehan must feel, she has sublimated the hatred she could have felt toward the men who fired