Good News In Iraq
I just read an amazing article from
the Washington Times' Julia Duin. Let's get right to it:
Posted Tuesday, May 23, 2006 1:05 AM
Comment 1 by Psycmeistr at 23-May-06 12:20 PM
Retired Iraqi Gen. Georges Sada, a former fighter pilot-turned-Christian evangelist, says Kurds are converting to Christianity "by the hundreds" in northern Iraq. Gen. Sada earlier reported that he had been told that Iraqi pilots, flying private planes, took weapons of mass destruction to undisclosed locations in Syria in 2002. The "good news" from Iraq's turbulent religious scene, consisting mainly of Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim militias battling each other, is from the Kurds, he said. Kurds are creating a constitution that does away with Shariah, or Islamic law, a move counter to trends in other Muslim countries such as Afghanistan and Iran, where leaving Islam is a capital offense and Christian converts are often killed. "No Christians in the Kurdish territory are persecuted," he said yesterday in an interview.That's quite a revelation, especially about the "Kurds are creating a constitution that does away with Shariah, or Islamic law" and that "No Christians in the Kurdish territory are persecuted." Anyone who'll try telling you that Iraq isn't better off now than it was under Saddam simply isn't credible.
He added that Nechervan Idris Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdish regional government in Irbil and nephew of former Iraqi Governing Council President Massoud Barzani, was extremely positive about evangelical Christians' efforts among Iraq's 4 million Kurds. "He told me he'd rather see a Muslim become a Christian rather than a radical Muslim," the general said.Frankly, I'm at a loss for words and that doesn't happen often. Like once every couple decades or so. Let's just say that this is proof that reality is often far stranger than fiction.
He spoke last night at McLean Bible Church, Northern Virginia's largest congregation, about his new vocation as director of the Iraqi Institute for Peace and president of the National Presbyterian Church in Baghdad. "My foundation for peace is Christianity," said Gen. Sada, who was born an Assyrian Christian. "We must learn to love. Muslims will say they've got love and forgiveness, but I want to emphasize what Jesus Christ has said."I'll be certain to add General Sada and his ministry to my prayer list. I'm sure he'd appreciate your prayers, too.
Posted Tuesday, May 23, 2006 1:05 AM
Comment 1 by Psycmeistr at 23-May-06 12:20 PM
Yes, things are better off without Saddam.
Although predictably, John Murtha has other ideas...