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My prayers are with those injured and I send condolences to the families of those killed.

But, at the risk of starting a flame war, I am not sure that this is the right time for Christian missionaries to be in country. We are trying to pacify a country with a history of violence and a suspicion of westerners, especially westerners who might be challenging their religious tradition of Islam. Now I believe that Islam is NOT equivalent in any way, shape or form to Christianity, and is certainly not the "Religion of Peace". However, in the current climate missionaries serve as a focus for insurgents within the local population. They then target American soldiers and civilians who are trying to disarm the country so as to allow a fledgling democracy to take root.

"Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'"

Matthew 28:18-20

I knew that World Vision is in Iraq. Below is from their web site. The "missionaries" are doing a huge job here and around the world. They didn't leave when the going got tough like the U.N. did. World Vision isn't there to pass out blankets, they are there to help God's children. And I imagine they all knew what danger they were in - but STILL they stayed with it. God bless them and their families and their faith.

Hospitals in Al Rutba and Al Qaim were in need of supplies. After a first assessment, World Vision purchased medicines in Amman to complement the blankets, jerrycans and plastic sheeting stored in Amman and distributed the goods to hospital staff. Now World Vision assists the health sector in All Rutba by rehabilitating the primary health care clinic, which serves as the temporary hospital. From its base in Mosul, World Vision helps to ensure the adequate supplies of essential drugs for the 14 hospitals in the Ninewa governorate. The staff aims to re-supply intravenous fluids to these hospitals as soon as possible as well. The Telefar General Hospital was provided with medical supplies and an emergency health kit to meet the needs of 10,000 people.