…those times when soldiers need spiritual energy

He’s not promoting religion per se. There’s a qualification. It’s like the bible in the dresser in your hotel room. It’s there if you need it. Then if your AllahPundit or not in need of spiritual energy, just leave it in the dresser. No harm, no foul.

Knee-jerk atheists. **sheesh**

Attack dogs for the lunatic left, is more like it.

Shame on you.

I’m sorry, I must be confused. This is a General Order that he issued to MNF-Iraq, correct? Otherwise, what in the heck is the big deal here? He likes the book. He thinks that others will find it helpful, especially in trying times. Hang him. That makes sense.
melchitt on August 22, 2008 at 1:57 AM

You have to remember that the liberal definition of the word “opression” doesn’t mean anything at all like what normal people mean when they say that word.

As Milton said: “None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license.” And that’s what every branch of liberalism seeks. Atheists don’t want “religious freedom” any more than homosexual fetishists want to get “married.” They demand societal stamps of approval; they want everyone to constantly reassure them; to tell them that the way they live their lives is good. But that’s the only thing we can never do for them. And for that, they will always hate us – even more than life itself.

Liberals do everything in their power to try and convince us they’re all just harmless idiots. But that’s a lie. OF COURSE Atheists know that they aren’t really in danger of Courts Martial – that’s a silly smokescreen. But one thing is true: they are being tortured; they feel the emptiness of their pathetic lives every second of every day. Then they see the hope and inspiration a great man like General Petraeus represents, and that feels to them every bit as painful as the proverbial car battery to the testicle.

Of course it’s understandable why they lash out in rabid, mindless hatred – anyone would. They want their pain to stop; but as consummate narcissists they are incapable of imagining, let alone admitting, that the pain comes from within. Emptiness, like darkness, is only visible in contrast. So, in the mind of the Atheist, seeing a man living his life with genuine spirituality doesn’t just put their pain into relief – they have to pretend that he somehow causes it.

No I think Gen. Petraeus is an honorable man, let’s not ruin that by putting him politics :)

Agreed. America would be in a bad place if our greatest generals became politicians instead.

There are enough politics in the military without overwhelming that establishment to mutate into the popularity contests aka public elections. As is, our military is the greatest. Don’t fix what isn’t broken. The PC infringement upon military traditions have done America no favor. Leave FAITH alone if you lack it.

Thanks for the tip, AP

Yes, please continue to badger one of the most brilliant military men of our time because of his faith in God. You can’t buy that type of publicity.

Unless the military has begun issuing this book as required equipment to our soldiers upon enlistment and/or subsequent assignments, along with their clothes, boots, helmets, weapons, eating utensils, handbooks, survival guides, USCMJ, etc etc etc… this is much ado about nothing.

“It shall be in every rucksack” is a command.

“it should be in every rucksack” is a recommendation.

There is a difference. Mikey Weinstein is an attention grabbing twerp. He’s going to get a little bit of attention, 95% of it negative. He’s got no interest in religious freedom in the military, if he did, he wouldn’t be working so hard to end it.

I’ve spoken with muslims who worked with GEN Petraeus extensively. None of them felt the slightest concern for the general’s religion. You are straining at gnats.

Johan Klaus on August 22, 2008 at 1:28 AM

Fair Enough :)

Squid Shark on August 22, 2008 at 1:22 AM

I am not telling you what to do, I am only relating my on experiences.

I try to help the situation, but then I get told by people like you to bend over and take it…

Squid Shark on August 22, 2008 at 1:22 AM

My dad also told me to choose my battles wisely.

Johan Klaus on August 22, 2008 at 1:16 AM

I try to help the situation, but then I get told by people like you to bend over and take it…

Try it on a B-52. You learn to live with other people and not take things that people say so personal.

I do, there is a difference between living with people and putting up with that crap on a regular basis from your higher ups.

It’s only unfair when a bunch of self-righteous, unholier-than-thou jackasses feel they can sit behind a curtain of anonymity and lob unlimited amounts of mindless bile at a man whose boots they are not fit to polish.

How is this mindless bile? MB4 and I are only saying that he should have known better and probably does most of the time.

As for the good General, he is an outstanding leader, I have been under his command before and would follow him to the end of the Earth if he asked me. At the end of the day, though, he is just a man, I think he knows that too.

When I was young, I was ostracised because I was skinny and I complained to my Dad about it, he told me to grow up. I said that is not fair. He said life is not fair.
Johan Klaus on August 22, 2008 at 12:55 AM

There’s nothing unfair about that: if they make fun of you for being skinny, you can make fun of them for being fat.

It’s only unfair when a bunch of self-righteous, unholier-than-thou jackasses feel they can sit behind a curtain of anonymity and lob unlimited amounts of mindless bile at a man whose boots they are not fit to polish.

The Carrier is a different world, it is a small city and different religious groups can blend into the background. Life on the “small boys” is a completely different proposition.

Squid Shark on August 21, 2008 at 11:31 PM

Try it on a B-52. You learn to live with other people and not take things that people say so personal.

When I was young, I was ostracised because I was skinny and I complained to my Dad about it, he told me to grow up. I said that is not fair. He said life is not fair.

Johan Klaus on August 22, 2008 at 12:55 AM

So it was OK for there to be a climate where my religion was marginalized and my service made subservient to “good Christian soldiers.

Petraeus burned at stake by athiest liberals for being a Christian.

Chakra Hammer on August 22, 2008 at 12:42 AM

To do sarcasm right you have to stay at least within a mile of the target zone, otherwise it just doesn’t work at all.