If you believe the news media, the war in Iraq has been an unmitigated disaster. I disagree. In fact, I think it will prove to be one of the greatest victories for freedom and democracy since the fall of the Berlin Wall. It is also in Iraq that some of the greatest, most noble soldiers in the war for the liberation of the oppressed are now arising—the citizens of Iraq who will soon risk their lives to vote.

America, the great seedbed and hope for freedom and democracy around the world, barely had a 60 percent turnout of voters in the recent elections. Rain in any region would have seriously depressed even these numbers. The Iraqis, who will vote in their upcoming elections, will actually risk their lives to do so, and yet it seems certain that they will have a greater percentage turnout than the U.S. elections. It is a marvel that they are not only willing to do this, but many have expressed that they consider voting one of the greatest privileges of their lifetime!

As one of the Iraqi candidates recently said when reminded that winning this election would make him an even bigger target for terrorists, his reply was: “It would be an honor to die as a soldier for democracy.” I do not think a more noble statement has been made since Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death.” As a Christian, who is fundamentally committed to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ without compromise, I take off my hat to these great souls who are arising from among the Muslims of Iraq. It is right to give them aid in any way that we can in their struggle.

It is not likely that we will ever know the true story of what is happening in Iraq from our news media. However, as the recent elections in America made clear, in general the media is quite out of touch with reality. The cancer of cynicism has so blinded the overwhelming majority of modern, Western journalists that they can only see problems and mistakes, and seem almost completely blind to positive accomplishments. This is why they are now missing one of the important stories of our times. Their own credibility has now fallen below that of any other profession, including televangelists and lawyers.

Anyone who relies on the present news media for their information or perspective on just about anything will be deceived. It has not always been this way and hopefully it will change, but it is the present reality. One obvious indication that things in Iraq are not the way they are being portrayed by our media at home is the fact that 80 percent of the soldiers in Iraq, who know what is happening there better than anyone else, voted for President Bush because of his Iraq policy. Half of these were registered Democrats. In all of the emails that I have received from troops there, what is happening in Iraq is actually very different from what is being reported at home.

We must understand that almost everything now reported in our media is slanted toward a predetermined perspective. The deception is not just in the reports themselves, though this can be the case, but also in what is reported. News that does not support their perspective or agenda simply will not make the news, with but a few exceptions. This will change in time because more and more are awakening to the truth about the media every day. The increasing slide of media credibility is demanding change, if for no other reasons than economic ones.

WMD?

So was it worth it for America to invade Iraq? Yes. Even if the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) are never found it will have been worth it, but before addressing why, I want to say something about the WMD. Even though our government now seems to have abandoned even the search for these weapons, and I may now seem to be just about alone in this, I maintain, as I always have, that WMD were in Iraq, and I believe they may still be there. As I said before the war, the scariest thing in the world would be if we do not find them.

You may think that I am just refusing to admit that I am wrong, but that is not the case. Even if you discount the seemingly wrong intelligence about Saddam’s WMD (I am still not convinced that it was wrong), it does not make sense that Saddam did not have them. Let me briefly explain.

We know Saddam had WMD because we gave them to him during the Iraqi war with Iran. That is the tragic truth, but it is true. We also know that he had them because he used them on the Kurds. The U.N. was given an inventory of these weapons as recently as 1998. Where did they go? Saddam never produced any evidence of their destruction. Also, why would Saddam risk the invasion by the Coalition if he was not hiding or protecting something?

So, if he had them why didn’t he use them during the invasion? That is a good question, but there is a logical answer to it. It was because of the brilliant Coalition war plan. Saddam was expecting at least a 30-day air war before the ground invasion because that was how we did it in the first Gulf War. However, the Coalition began the invasion with a lightning ground assault that kept the Iraqi forces reeling from the very first hour. They obviously tried to get protective gear for chemical and biological warfare to their front line troops so they could use them, but were never able to do this because there never was an identifiable front line until we were in the streets of Baghdad.

Enough chemical and biological WMD to destroy all life in the region, and maybe on the planet if placed strategically, could fit into the back of a couple of semi-trucks. Iraq is a very large territory; it would be easy to hide them so that they could never be found. So why would our Administration not maintain this and keep up the weapons search? There could be a very good reason for it, which no one is discussing, and it would be irresponsible to discuss such reasons at this time.

If this potential scenario is in fact the case, and in due time the true story can be made known, it will make our President one of the most courageous, noble, and brilliant, men to have ever sat in that office. If this story can never be made public, which is possible, he will still have been such a President, but few will ever know it. I personally do not believe that President Bush cares as much about being known for this as he cares about protecting America and indeed much of the world from a danger far worse than most can even imagine. In fact, it may be much better that most remain ignorant so they can go about their lives normally, without the kind of fear that such knowledge could generate.

However, for those who pray, the dangers that the world is facing right now from terrorism is far worse than all but a very few are aware. It is also likely that not only the best defense, but the only defense we have against it, is a good offense that keeps them on the defensive. If the terrorists have a reprieve that is long enough, it is very likely that without Divine intervention, we will be hit far harder than we were on 9/11. However, Divine intervention is not only a factor, but the greatest factor. The Lord is presently protecting us. Anyone who really understands what is happening in the war on terror is well aware of this and has plenty of evidence that we have had Divine protection until now. Let us never take it for granted.

For this reason we need increasing prayer protection for our leaders, our soldiers, and our countries. As I have maintained for years, there is a lot of nuclear material missing from former Soviet stockpiles. Even if they do not presently have the sophistication to set off a nuclear bomb, a single dirty bomb could kill millions, as well as render large regions uninhabitable for decades. If they can release just one, they believe that they can hold the rest of the world hostage to do their will. We must not let down our guard. Prayer is by far the most effective weapon that we have in this war.

Because of this great threat, it is understandable that many will maintain that Iraq was a diversion from where we really needed to be concentrating our efforts. I am convinced that it was not, but was in fact necessary, and in due time I think we will understand why. Even if the WMD were not there, the Iraq war has not been a distraction, but a brilliant strategy and the benefits are considerable, greatly outweighing the cost. Let us briefly look at just a few.

The Advantages of the Present Conflict

Like it or not, America has been raised up in this time to fight against some of the most diabolical evils of all time. These include Nazism, communism, terrorism, and other extreme “isms” that are the most desperate enemies of truth and freedom. Step back and think about what condition the world would be in today if America did not stand up to Nazism and communism. Terrorism is an even more sinister enemy, and the consequences of letting terrorism win would be even more intolerable. This is a noble cause. It is also one that we do not have any choice but to fight unless we want to be slaves to such as the Taliban.

This is not to imply that all Muslims, or even a large percentage, are like the Taliban, but it is the nature of the cult of terrorists. They have already proven this in the country where they gained political control—Afghanistan. Finally, in Iraq, even with the continual attacks and short life expectancy of those who would join the police or military, Muslims are starting to fight back in increasing numbers. Believe the media or not, most Iraqis are very thankful for the help they have been given by America and her allies. They, too, want us to leave as soon as possible, which is understandable as no nation wants to be occupied, but they are thankful, and do count us as a true friend.

Those who are fighting against America and democracy in Iraq are the former oppressors of Iraq who have lost power. All who benefited from the Hussein regime greatly fear majority rule in Iraq and believe that they are now fighting for own their lives. However, we need to pray for a wise leadership to arise in Iraq, who, like Nelson Mandella in South Africa, will determine that there is no time for revenge and that any form of retaliation is not in anyone’s best interest.

The others who are so desperate to defeat democracy in Iraq are the terrorists. Few seem to have noticed that since the war in Iraq began, terrorist attacks around the world have greatly decreased. There have been some, but not nearly on the scale as before the war. Iraq has been the flypaper for terrorists, and if we were not fighting them there we would be fighting them in our own backyards. These terrorists have no choice but to fight there because if democracy gets a true foothold in the region, their form of extremism is doomed. Democracies may have disputes and argue with each other, but they do not go to war with each other.

Another great advantage of the war in Iraq is the training of the future leaders of America. This is not just military leaders, but as some articles have come out recently, corporations and other large organizations learned long ago that combat veterans make the best leaders. The prosperity we now enjoy is mostly owed to the World War II veterans who returned with a maturity, resolve, and endurance in numbers that were unprecedented in our history. It was inevitable that they would propel us to accomplishments that were unprecedented.

War is hell; it comes from hell; and no one in their right mind likes it. But if you are going to prevail in this present world, those who have been through its crucible will make the best leaders. From Vietnam, to the first Gulf War, to the recent and present conflicts, America is being salted with those who will prove to be some of our greatest leaders for a long time to come. This is a part of a Divine provision to preserve America for a long time to come, which will include some of the most difficult times the world has ever known.

I am thankful to live in a nation that values life so much that the loss of a single soldier is news and causes the nation to lament. However, just as no general could ever be successful if he were too concerned about casualties, America has to learn to accept the casualties we are now suffering as an acceptable price to pay in this war. We have, in fact, paid a very low price to date. Of course, many who have lost family members and friends may not feel this way, but it is a remarkable tribute to the character of the nation that so many of them do, and are very proud of their relatives and friends who paid the ultimate price for our sake.

Future Leaders for the World?

Iraq is a great nation with an extraordinary people, as is all of biblical Assyria, Egypt, and their close cousin, Israel. Biblical Assyria includes all of the nations from present Iraq to the Sinai. Something remarkable in history is going to arise from that region, which is prophesied in Isaiah 19:19-25:

In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord near its border.

And it will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.

Thus the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it.

And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them.

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,

whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."

This is a biblical prophecy which must be fulfilled and obviously has not yet been fulfilled. God is going to do something in this region that will be far beyond anything human diplomacy could ever accomplish and will cause the entire world to marvel. We cannot go into much detail now, but it is time for it to be fulfilled. As Daniel prayed when he recognized that it was time for the remnant to return from bondage to restore Jerusalem, let us begin to pray for it to now come to pass.

Again, with all that they are facing, if the Iraqi people turn out to vote in as great numbers as it appears they will, they deserve to be acknowledged as the new heroes in the war against tyranny—the true and courageous freedom fighters of the most noble kind who risked their lives to cast their vote. Such people are worth fighting for. PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE ELECTIONS AND THE NEW NATION THAT IS BEING BORN. IT COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENTS SINCE THE REBIRTH OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL. These great people are worth the cost. I live my life for the coming kingdom, but confess to being thankful to be a citizen of a nation that has such values. I am likewise thankful for the other courageous and noble nations of the Coalition that feel likewise.