We can't guard the churches. That might backfire anyway. However, we should make it a priority to find out who is behind the attack. Which imam, tribal sheik, cell group, or militia did this? They should be hit them extra hard. That might give the Christians some breathing space to survive, even as our presence scales back. Otherwise, our legacy may be said to include the ethnic cleansing of Christians from Iraq.
“Otherwise, our legacy may be said to include the ethnic cleansing of Christians from Iraq.”
It already is; they’re leaving, and not going back. There is no way to secure them; at least in Lebanon they were almost half of the population (and still lost). As the French took many of them in back then, so we are taking in many of these Christians. If the US can’t deal with those killing US troops, what can they hope to achieve against those targeting Iraq’a Christians?
Well gosh, how were we supposed to know?
From my post of 2/22/2003:
Christians in the Middle East are in a perilous position everywhere -- especially in Iraq. If you think Saddam Hussein's secular Baathist thugocracy is a menace to the Christian community, just wait till "democracy" is installed, reflecting the views of the majority, who are fervently Shi'ite and have already indicated their intent to hold out for shari'a as the basis for their new islamic republic. If you're wondering whether US taxpayers are about to sponsor another triumph for Christianity along the lines of Kosovo, my guess is, Yes.
Bush's fault. And how.