On this point, you and I are in agreement. I would express in just slightly different language.
Notwithstanding the rhetoric used by the author of this opinion piece, he does have a point, in that missionaries (God bless them) who choose to travel to a dangerous part of the world to spread the Gospel must fully accept the consequences of their actions. There ought to be some kind of requirement for missionaries to sign a paper which indemnifies Coalition forces against having to rescue them. Kind of like the old “Mission Impossible” show where the opening communique ends with “Should you or any member of your IM force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.”