Pope Enters Iraq Fray; Iraq would welcome Pope peace trip - Iraqi envoy

BBC / Reuters ^

[F16Fighter]

"From what I've seen of the Pope, I'm not even sure he's aware of this [murders of Christians in Sudan]. He's a sick, old man in insular surroundings. What does he know about current events except what his aides tell him?"

It's a mystery to me, but politically speaking, he and whomever are calling the shots over at the Vatican appear to be contributing to anti-American propaganda by this bogus 11th hour "peace trip."

[St.Chuck]

Will you be disapponted if war is averted?

[Romulus]

Is there any person more unimposing than a French Cardinal?

Actually, Cardinal Lustiger of Paris is a very impressive man. Did you know he was born and raised as a Jew?

[Desdemona]

If the missions of earlier Christian leaders were sufficiently righteous to garner papal benedictions, why in the world would today's pontiff join the chorus of whiney appeasers and not stand with us against Saddam and his cabal of islamakazi misanthropes?

Tony, there's a difference between being whiney and seeing that an international match-up like this has the potential of turning into WWIII and trying despirately to avoid it. This is not going to end with Iraq. It's going to spread. And it's going to get really expensive. For everybody. It's inevitible, but remember that not every nation, faith, group has the short fuses we do. They have to be pulled along kicking and screaming.

As for Constantine and Charlemagne - Constantine was a great Christian warrior, but remember, he wasn't Baptized, hadn't made a Confession or First Communion or been Confirmed until his deathbed least it effect his salavation. DOn't forget that. They weren't popes. THey were civil leaders.

[Desdemona]

I'd like to see democracy and peace in the Arab world. I'd like to see a freely elected, representative body administering law and defending people's freedom in Mesopotamia, Arabia and Persia. I'd like to see prosperity built by unshackled human ingenuity in that part of the world, just like it is in the West.

Yes, but they have to decide this for themselves and take charge to do it. It does them no good and leaves them vulnerable to another tyrant if we do it for them. Getting rid of Hussein will be a favor to the world, but those people have to build themselves up.

[St.Chuck]

But do you think for a second that any of this will occur from appeasement, handwringing and pious diplo-babble?

Appeasement has become anything other than the use of military force to remove Saddam Hussein. Noone is suggesting that Saddam be ignored. In fact, the French and German plan actually calls for the noose to be tightened. So appeasement is a mischaracterization.

I'm not certain that the aim for spreading democracy to the middle east is best accomplished through conquest and occupation. ( see Afghanastan ) In a culture that has no democratic traditions and is stuck in feudalism it wouldn't be too far off the mark to describe spreading democracy as pious daydreaming. One thing the Bush administration needs to do is have an end game; while the use of our overpowering military is attractive to most Americans, as some kind of catharsis or entertainment venue, some would like to understand the long range plan and it's practical feasiblity when put in place.

[FairOpinion]

[Destro]

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz is Catholic if I am not mistaken.

[iranger]

"Yes, but they have to decide this for themselves and take charge to do it."

Instilling democracy on a subjucated and defeated Japan and Germany seems to have worked pretty well.

[Desdemona]

I don't have a problem with removing Saddam. And, regardless of how it's reported, the Vatican would rather have terrorism out of the picture, too.

What I'm worried about is this escalating into a multi-front war before we know what hit us and having to prop up other nations to keep them from being over-run by neighboring countries.

[Destro]

Iraq is a secularist Arab nation and teh Christians there enjoy more rights and are more plentiful than in Turkey. Saying this of course does not mean I support or defend the evil Ba'athist Arabic regime.