IRAQ

ALternet: The New Christian Crusaders
After 9/11, pundits quickly relegated "irony" to history's dust bin. There was nothing left to laugh about. Several months later, there were no hosannas or fanfare when irony slithered back into our lives. These days, irony is alive and well, thank you, as recently embodied by several post-war proselytizing-in-Iraq proposals announced by fundamentalist Christian organizations.


With each passing day the U.S. rains down more death and destruction on the people of Iraq. Outrage within the Muslim world is rapidly growing. When the war against Iraq is over and occupation begins, the Bush Administration plans to establish an American-led government – with ample benefits reaped by the president's long-time political supporters and oil industry cronies. Closely behind these grim reapers there will follow a host of fundamentalist Christian leaders, plowing the sand for new recruits.


Over the past 10 days, several fundamentalist Christian organizations announced plans to prop further open the window of opportunity by participating in the rebuilding of Iraq. Before the war, none seemed particularly interested in working to avoid the situation the Bush Administration has caused in the country, and now, none seems interested in whether or not they're invited or even desired by the people of Iraq.