Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. - Luke 2:14

[rug]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/23/iraq-christian-exodus-christmas

Their cathedrals stand silent and their neighbourhoods are rapidly emptying. Now Iraq's Christians face two further unthinkable realities: that Christmas this year is all but cancelled, and that few among them will stay around to celebrate future holy days.

It has been the worst of years for the country's Christians, with thousands fleeing in the past month and more leaving the country during 2010 than at any time since the invasion nearly eight years ago. Christian leaders say there have been few more defining years in their 2,000-year history in central Arabia.

The latest exodus follows a massacre led by al-Qaida at a Chaldean Catholic church in central Baghdad on 31 October, which left about 60 people dead, almost 100 maimed and an already apprehensive community terrified. Since then, the terrorist group has targeted Christians in their homes, including family members of those who survived the attack.

In Baghdad, as well as the northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, Christmas services have been cancelled for fear of further violence. Church leaders said they would not put up Christmas decorations or celebrate midnight mass. They told families not to decorate their homes, for fear of attack after al-Qaida reiterated its threat to target Christians earlier this week.



Merry Christmas.

[alphafemale]

1. Thanks, George. nt

[Botany]

2. God told him to do it ....

Nabil Shaath says: "President Bush said to all of us: 'I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, "George, go and fight
those terrorists in Afghanistan." And I did, and then God would tell me, "George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq ." And I did. And
now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, "Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace
in the Middle East." And by God I'm gonna do it.'"


http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/10_october/06/bush.shtml

[Fumesucker]

Mission Accomplished..

-Der Bushler

[Fumesucker]

3. Ooops.. Double post.. Self delete..

[Iggo]

4. USA! USA! USA!

[Gman]

5. So Bush undid 2000 years of Christianity in the cradle of civilization

St. Paul and others traveled these areas spreading the Good News. And Bush undid it all.

[immoderate]

6. To Luke...

:toast:

See my sig. (I didn't write that.)

--imm