Iran War: Saving the heathens one bomb at a time (or a thousand at a time, whatever)

It's still not clear to me from the news reports that the claimed nuclear test by "axis of evil" charter member North Korea was actually successful. But successful or not, it's a huge reminder that if the world wants successful nuclear nonproliferation, it will have to come some other way than the United States under the Bush Doctrine threatening to bomb or invade any country close to getting The Bomb.

Meanwhile, there's Iran. Gen. J.C. Christian on the weekends turns his blog over to a "Frenchman", Austin Cline, who writes "shrill" liberal comments. This past weekend, he posted Our Truth is Marching On: Like John the Baptist, We Prepare the Way for Liberty, Democracy, and Christianity 10/08/06:

The war drums are beating again and seem to be getting louder. Is it mere coincidence that many of the things which were said by the administration and Bush’s conservative fluffers about Iraq prior to its invasion are now being said by the same people and in the same ways about Iran? Perhaps — coincidences happen all the time. It’s wise not to trust coincidences, though, and this administration’s past use of violent rhetoric has usually been carefully choreographed and planned. It’s possible that the current language has been chosen in order to deliberately scare Iran into thinking that an attack is coming, but that’s a trick you can only effectively use once or twice. That an actual attack is being planned is at least as likely, and possibly more so. ...

When you believe that you are doing God’s Will, it’s hard to see the wisdom of imposing any limits on one’s actions. When you are God’s Instrument, then you can’t possibly fail unless you lack sufficient faith. This means that one’s faith is the only deciding factor when it comes to success — not the number of troops you have, not the level of preparation, not the assistance of allies, and not whether there is any rational consistency to your behavior. Indeed, to even consider such issues would itself suggest a lack of faith and thereby almost guarantee failure.

Seemingly inexplicable and irrational behavior can thus sometimes be explained as a "rational" consequence of relying on strong, sincere faith. That appears to be the sort of faith which President George W. Bush has and which thus may be driving many of the decisions which others have trouble understanding. He believes that he was given the presidency by God and that God is directing his actions. With that sort of faith, he could believe that nothing will stop him and that nothing else is needed for victory. Unfortunately, when faith overwhelms good sense and sound reasoning, people tend to get hurt.

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