President Bush

Marie from View From the Pews has a reflection on President Bush that I think is well worth a read.

H/T Esther.

What a Hero Looks Like

I just want to point to Ma Beck's post entitled What a Hero Looks Like, which is about Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor.

Kidnapped Iraq archbishop dead

Kidnapped Iraq archbishop dead: Catholic news agency

Thu Mar 13, 8:44 AM ET

Paulos Faraj Rahho, the Chaldean Catholic archbishop in Iraq who was kidnapped last month, has been found dead, an Italian Catholic news agency quoted an Iraqi bishop as saying on Thursday.

"Archbishop Rahho is dead. We found his lifeless body near Mosul. The kidnappers had buried him," Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad was quoted as telling SIR, the news agency of the Italian Bishops' Conference.

Rahho was seized on February 29 after gunmen attacked his car in eastern Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, killing his driver and two guards.

Link

H/T WardWideWeb

What goes around - Comes around

H/T to Linda at Conservababes

What goes around - Comes around
By Richard S. Lowry

Unfortunately, most Americans do not consider Iraqis as people. We see them as terrorists or victims, not as everyday people with the same values as our friends, neighbors and relatives. Yet, most Iraqis are decent human beings with the same concerns, dreams, and compassion as most Americans. They want peace and are concerned about their fellow man.

Is it no wonder that we feel differently about the people of Iraq, when the American media only reports sensational news? If it doesn’t bleed or explode, you just aren’t going to see it on the evening news. I received a press release from Baghdad today, which I know the mainstream media will not pass on to you all. Here is an example of Iraqi charity and gratitude which touched my soul. Imagine how incredibly generous these soldiers are. They have little to support their own families. It’s not enough that they are fighting daily to bring peace to their country. They are actually reaching out to help unfortunate Americans.

Richard S. Lowry is author of Marines in the Garden of Eden and The Gulf War Chronicles.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071026-01
October 26, 2007

Iraqi Army at Besmaya Installation Support San Diego Fire Victims
By U.S. Army Sgt 1st Class Charlene Sipperly
Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq Public Affairs

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Members of the Iraqi Army in Besmaya collected a donation for the San Diego, Calif., fire victims Thursday night at the Besmaya Range Complex in a moving ceremony to support Besmaya's San Diego residents.

Iraqi Army Col. Abbass, the commander of the complex, presented a gift of $1,000 to U.S. Army Col. Darel Maxfield, Besmaya Range Complex officer in charge, Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, to send to the fire victims in California.

The money was collected from Iraqi officers and enlisted soldiers in Besmaya. In a speech given during the presentation, Col. Abbass stated that he and the Iraqi soldiers were connected with the American people in many ways, and they will not forget the help that the American government has given the Iraqi people. Abbass was honored to participate by sending a simple fund of $1,000 to the American people in San Diego, to lower the suffering felt by the tragedy.

http://www.marinesinthegardenofeden.com

Link

Celebrating Justice

Celebrating Justice... @ Iraq the Model.

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Enter complaining about the Holy See's opposition to the execution.

Saddam Dead

So ends the Hussein chapter in Iraq's history.

Iraq the Model

Check out Iraq the Model for some in-country news and views on Saddam.

Year 2007 will definitely be without Saddam walking on the ground....

Saddam's Impending Execution

What exactly is the appropriate Catholic & Christian response to the death sentence against Saddam? In the past few days we have seen the articles about his impending execution, and then I saw this morning an article about a Cardinal who is opposed to the execution.

I was thinking about it the other day. I used to be for the death penalty, but then I decided that creating a culture of life, a culture that included all life, was more important than meting out punishment. Although I came to be against the death penalty, I always qualified it that I was against it in this country, and that it may still be approrpiate outside the U.S.

Now I am faced with Saddam's execution, and I'm not sure what to think. Do I particularly care what happens to Saddam? Not really. As far as I'm concerned he's an evil man who is getting the punishment he deserves. Trust me, no tears will be shed here for this man when he... ahem... swings. But in general how do I feel about the execution?

Perhaps killing him will bring some closure to the Iraqi people, and will finally close his chapter in Iraq's history. Perhaps with him gone they can finally begin to move on out of the chaos and horror of the past to something better. But, if I were on the jury could I sign off on executing him? Could I put my name to that? And if I couldn't, can I really support it?

This makes me recall a column Fr. Jonathan did after Zarqawi was killed, and he asked what we should be rejoicing in? The death of another person, or that their evil actions have come to a halt. Perhaps I should look at Saddam similarly. If you want to read his post about Zarqawi, Zarqawi is Dead. Should We Rejoice?.

I think I still have a lot of thinking to do. I'm open to thoughts on this one.