In case you had any doubts about Iraq being a Christian Holy War

[Sandpiper]

Marines turn to God ahead of anticipated Fallujah battle

Sat Nov 6, 1:33 PM ET

<snip>

"You are the sovereign. You're name is holy. You are the pure spotless lamb," a female voice cried out on the loudspeakers as the marines clapped their hands and closed their eyes, reflecting on what lay ahead for them.

<snip>

One spoke of their Old Testament hero, a shepherd who would become Israel's king, battling the Philistines some 3,000 years ago.

"Thus David prevailed over the Philistines," the marine said, reading from scripture, and the marines shouted back "Hoorah, King David," using their signature grunt of approval.

<snip>

Their chaplain, named Horne, told the worshippers they were stationed outside Fallujah to bring the Iraqis "freedom from oppression, rape, torture and murder ... We ask you God to bless us in that effort."

<snip>

"God's people would be annointed with oil," the chaplain said, as he lightly dabbed oil on the marines' foreheads.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041106/lf_afp/iraq_fallujah_church_041106183348

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Free clue

ALL TROOPS across hisotry do this before combat

From the bloody fields of the civil war all the way to Normandy, and Iwo Jima... so this is not surprising

[Tempest]

6. There's a big difference

The Civil War and Normandy didn't involve slaughtering tens of thousands of women and children like Fallujah will.

I doubt God was listening.

[JuniperLea]

2. ah ha!

i knew they would use both the old and the new testiments in this! it's hard to argue with the old, but the new has all sorts of peace-hippie-jesus stuff that blows holes in their message.

this is getting spooky!

[CBGLuthier]

3. was this written by a real journalist?

Not questioning the article itself so much as they have a major grammatical error, confusing you're with your. I hate that mistake but I let it go in the online community even as it grates on my nerves.

[neonplaque]

4. Freaky cult-ish crap

Glad I was medically disqualified from joining the service my HS senior year!!!!

[truthpusher]

5. Link

This was started in LBN http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x965929