Why This American 'Soldier of Christ' Is Fighting ISIS in Iraq -- ABC

[Skidmore]

The reporting of this creeped me out as much as the actual actions of this young man. Terry Moran appears to have a holy mission too as far as his reporting is concerned. Listen carefully. I can't figure out how to embed this video though so you will have to go to the link to play it.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/american-soldier-christ-fighting-isis-iraq/story?id=29171878

He is 28 years old. Detroit born and bred. An Army veteran. And now he is a self-described "Soldier of Christ" back in Iraq, fighting ISIS on the front lines.

"People ask me, 'Why you?' I come back and I say, 'Why not? Why just me? Where's everyone else at?" said Brett, who requested that ABC News not use his last name to protect his family back home.

"Jesus says, you know, 'What you do unto the least of them, you do unto me,'" he added. "I take that very seriously."

More...

[glasshouses]

1. Good for him

Why would this creep you out?

[Skidmore]

2. Because there is enough of a problem with

having ISIS waving swords in the name of religion. We do not need to turn this into a religious war. Are you content to inject a "crusade" in the middle of a sectarian fight belonging to Islam.

I don't want a world war, and I think this is exactly where some people want to take it.

[glasshouses]

4. It's already a religious war

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/11/isis-iraq-numbers_n_5659239.html





The number of openly practicing Christians thought to be left in the city of Mosul, where the Islamic State has made Christianity punishable by death. While it's impossible to know if Islamic State militants have actually chased every Christian out of the city, recent reports suggest that all remaining Christians had fled Mosul

[blm]

7. It's a 'religious' war claimed by Daesh and a minority of Christian extremists

and opportunistic loudmouths here in the US seeking to exploit both.

You are welcome to explain why you side with Daesh in pretending their barbaric use of 'religion' to justify their psychotic bloodthirst is acceptable.

I still find it interesting that you use an Obama avatar as you take every opportunity to post against his policies, including his policy to NOT give in to to the extremist terrorists and their 'claim' to be slaughtering justly as per their 'religion'.

I suppose you will be siding next with those African nations claiming 'religion' as the justification to execute gays.

[glasshouses]

8. In Iraq it is a religious war ..period

There is no dispute about this ...end of story

[blm]

9. glasshouses sides with Daesh's justification for their 'war'….period.

There is no dispute between Daesh and you and a minority of Christian extremists here, eh glass?

And, apparently you side with them against Obama and Kerry and our current military leaders, too.

"No dispute" in YOUR mind means you are NOT here to further Obama's worldview that the conflict is NOT justified by 'religion'……period.

[glasshouses]

10. HA

At least you conceded it is a religious war.

[blm]

15. I did no such thing. You, apparently, have no problem twisting everything

to fit your RW ideology.

YOU are being called out for your tendency to side with RW ideologues. Obama and Kerry insist it is NOT a 'religious war' while Daesh and O'Reilly insists it is. You side with Daesh and O'Reilly.

You have never fooled me one bit.

[glasshouses]

20. Go to Iraq and open a christian church in an area controled by ISIS, let me know how you make out

[glasshouses]

25. Is the citeria we have to agree with everything Obama and Kerry say...really

So now everything Obama and Kerry supports .. DUers are suppose to agree with?

Go TPP !!!!!!!!


don't think so...

[blm]

52. Defend your claim that there is 'no dispute' it is a 'religious war'

and tell us why YOU think Obama, Kerry, American Muslims, and current military leaders are all wrong, and why YOU think Daesh, and Christian extremists, and Bill O'Reilly all have it right to claim it IS a 'religious war', glass.

Or…choose another deflection tactic you hope some here will buy for your next post.

[glasshouses]

60. so.......

The Christians who live in Iraq and Syria say it's a religious war

ISIS says it's a religious war


But people who live in the safe confines of our border say it's not.....they must be right then

That's your position on the matter????? Okidoki then

[blm]

66. Say it straight: You side with Daesh's claim it's a 'religious war'

and that their widespread slaughter of Muslims and Christians should be seen by Christians as an attack on only their religious beliefs?

When is reality supposed to factor in to the equation, Mr Duct Tape?

You think Obama should ignore reality?
You think Kerry should ignore reality?
You think Iraq and Syria's Muslim and Christian communities should ignore the reality?

And, just so American Christian extremists, Bill O'Reilly, and Mr Duct Tape, can claim that there is 'no dispute' that the bloodthirsty opportunists are waging a 'religious war'.

[AtheistCrusader]

23. Jury Results.

On Wed Feb 25, 2015, 11:36 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

HA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6277035

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Twisting the words of blm. He said no such thing. GOP talking points this entire thread.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Feb 25, 2015, 11:44 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Very Poor alert in my opinion...perhaps that post is not nice, but my goodness. Not nice is not enough to delete it..even sarcasm ain't enuf...
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Whether it's religious, territorial, or just plain crazy is under dispute here. All sides should have a say.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This hardly rises to the level of being censored. I think each poster got his/her position across. The readers can decide which is more reasonable.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Sorry, I see nothing wrong with this post.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Bullshit alert.
And GOP talking points on this subject usually involve hiking our military over there to fight them, and I don't see any posts where glasshouse advocates that. If you see one, alert on THAT.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[blm]

29. I don't want any of this hidden - I want it clear who sides with who

and WHY.

To say there is 'no dispute' that it is a 'religious war' is to say you agree with Daesh, Christian extremists and RW political opportunists.

To say there is 'no dispute' that it is a 'religious war' is to say you chose to completely ignore the speeches and policies forwarded by Obama, Kerry, current military leaders, and American Muslims.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

11. "you are NOT here to further Obama's worldview."

Speaking of religious extremism.

[blm]

17. Obama's worldview on this IS to NOT portray the conflict as between religions.

If you disagree with that AND side with Daesh, Christian extremists, and glass, then openly agree with them.

I have no problem criticizing Obama when he is wrong - he's not wrong here to portray ISIS as Daesh and blasphemers of the religion they claim justifies their bloodthirsty opportunism. Daesh, O'Reilly, Christian extremists and glasshouses ARE wrong in claiming it IS a religious war.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

33. "Obama's worldview on this IS to NOT portray the conflict as between religions."

I'm not even sure you're accurately portraying Obama's view. The President has been quite clear that he does not see ISIS as representative of Islam and I am prepared to agree with him on that score.

It's your characterization of his view as the sole representation of reality that I found ironic. Perhaps your wording is poorly chosen but that is how it reads.

If ISIS calls it a religious war then acknowledging their verbiage is not to "agreeing" with them, it is acknowledging their verbiage, and nothing more. Some debate whether or not ISIS operates within the teachings of Islam. All I know is that there are plenty of Muslims who reject ISIS and there are piles of dead bodies to that affect. However, unless ISIS and their genocidal ambitions are stopped they will become the sole voice of Islam by default.

[blm]

40. glasshouses' post was that there is 'no dispute' it is a 'religious war'.

I think you are arguing with the wrong post.

My posts take the view that it IS about much more than religion, and that religion is, once again, being used as the smokescreen for those who wish to justify their blood thirst. Including the way Bush used religious impulse to justify his invasion of Iraq when it was becoming more apparent they lied about the intel to congress, to the American people, to other world leaders.

[glasshouses]

41. In ISIS's mind it is , in the christians who live in Iraq and Syria it is

but someone living in the confines of our borders says it's not we should agree with that assessment .

That's ludicrous

[blm]

49. It's 'ludicrous' for me to agree with Obama, Kerry, American Muslims,

and Islamic leaders of other nations who insist that Daesh, Christian extremists, and political opportunists like O'Reilly who all claim the slaughter is based in religion are wrong?

Heheh…keep digging, glass.

[glasshouses]

55. Keep trying to change the subject again

That's a good debate tactic when you're losing a debate.

We are talking about the people who are living in the war zone of Syria and Iraq....remember ????

[blm]

57. No, we're talking about YOU claiming there is 'no dispute' that it is

a 'religious war' when there is absolutely PLENTY of dispute of your claim, including this WH's official statements and official statements from Muslim community and its leaders.

You're cornered and you know it, glass.

Layer all the duct tape you want….you're broken….and you know it.

[glasshouses]

65. There's no dispute it's about religion with the christians living in Iraq and Syria

My statement is 100% correct


So you want to correct them on their views ?

funny

[Nuclear Unicorn]

43. "religion is...being used as the smokescreen for those who wish to justify their blood thirst"

Certainly no argument here on that point.

[jwirr]

59. What ISIS wants is to convince as many Muslim people as it can that this is a legitimate religious

war. That it is the Christians of the world that they are fighting. They are appealing to all Muslims to follow them because according to them this war fulfills their end times prophecy. Thankfully most Islam believers do not agree with this. We hope to keep it that way.

Likewise, our rw fundamentalists would also love to see this as a religious war - which is exactly what this guy is saying when he talks about being a Soldier of Christ. And there are plenty of idiots who would be very glad to have our military involved in a religious war. Some of them might even be willing to go over themselves. But I think fundies by and large want to send someone else to do the fighting. They also think this is their end times war.

This is what the President in his speech was trying to avoid. Two crazy factions of two international religions facing each other and fighting to the death. And getting all of the rest of us pulled into the fight when they issue their war cries in the name of their gods.

Up to this point I don't think that we have entered this religious war on either side. We are just trying to stop the idiots on both sides. But how much longer can we hold this line if we are going to divide the war using the two international religions as the reason we are there?

[blm]

67. Some are idiots and some here are spreading propaganda for political opportunism

in order to further exploit the idiocracy. Same as always.

glass has been pressing, once again, the same view as Bill O'Reilly.

[el_bryanto]

12. What a great rhetorical technique

Just declare yourself right!

"Caramel Milkshakes are the best Milkshakes . . . period. There is no dispute about this . . . end of story!"

"But I like strawberry . . ."

"I said End of story!"

Bryant

[glasshouses]

19. When the debate is clear then there's no debate

It's no different than spending my time debating flat earthers

[blm]

21. You're SIDING with the flat earthers claiming this war is justified by 'religion'.

But, then, we've come to expect that of you.

For the record, why DO you agree with Daesh, Christian extremists and O'Reilly on this and disagree with Obama and Kerry and current military leaders?

[glasshouses]

30. I am doing no such thing , I'm not religious

but many people are and that has started more wars in the history of the world than anything else.


I don't understand how you can't see this.

[blm]

36. Your political opportunism is obvious. I didn't say you were being 'religious'.

I clearly say that you are siding with the justification of psychotic blood thirst seen through the pretense that it is a 'religious war' as described by Daesh, by Christian extremists, and by loudmouth political opportunists like O'Reilly.

If you are NOT Daesh….if you are NOT a Christian extremist….then you are on the same page with O'Reilly.

You are clearly wrong when you say there is 'no dispute' that it is a 'religious war' when the President, Sec of State, military leaders, and American Muslims are disputing YOUR extremist view.

[glasshouses]

38. So if it is a religious war which you seem to agree with.

We should pretend it's not because Obama and Kerry said it's not.

That's your position on this?

[blm]

42. It's NOT a religious war and never has been. Your insistence on twisting my words

is, at best, entertaining to the reality based community.

Political opportunists have been USING the 'religion' smokescreen for centuries. Political opportunists have been using internet forums to push their wars under cover of 'religion' smokescreens for decades.

[glasshouses]

45. please read my other response to you

[blm]

47. Your 'responses' make no sense.

You have already proven that you will take any issue, be it Zimmerman, Ferguson, ACA or ISIS, and put up the RW talking points defense of your views.

We're not your monkeys, glass…..and we are not fooled.

[glasshouses]

51. It's makes perfect sense and you know it does that's why

you keep trying to change the subject

[blm]

53. LOL - keep adiggin', glass.

.

[glasshouses]

56. Thought so

[Kingofalldems]

27. What an insult.

Your avatar is not convincing at all BTW.

[el_bryanto]

48. End of story! nt

[blm]

58. ; )

.

[glasshouses]

16. In case you missed it these are the forces the U.S and President Obama are helping

Kurdish peshmerga

[hrmjustin]

28. Isis are on a crusader and holy war.

[Kingofalldems]

5. So if he gets captured is the US responsible?

[ND-Dem]

24. that'll be the justification for bringing in the big guns

[guillaumeb]

34. which Jesus is he following with his killing?

the Jesus who told his followers to turn the other cheek?
the Jesus who told Peter to put up his sword, because one who lives by the sword shall die by the sword?
the Jesus who told his followers to forgive "7 times 70" times?

the Jesus who was/is the pacifist philosopher or
perhaps a mythical warrior Jesus that killers can turn to as inspiration/absolution for their homicidal behavior?

Just asking.

[phil89]

46. You think

This delusional weirdo's belief that he's fighting for Jesus is a good thing? Is this really what the world needs? Talk about being part of the problem. Disgusting.

[blm]

50. Wel, have you ever known Bill O'Reilly to steer us wrong?

; )

[WDIM]

3. Jesus also said forgive your enemy.

Turn the other cheek. Forgive. And live in peace and love and non-violence. Even faced with his own death Jesus chose peace. He had followers that could of started an uprising used violent resistance, but no he chose peace. Violence has no justification and is not a means to an end and nobody who uses violence is truly a follower of Jesus.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

13. Self-mortification of pride is a far cry from standing idle in face of rapists and murderers.

[leveymg]

6. What militia would Jesus fight for? n/t

[Nuclear Unicorn]

14. If Jesus drove out the money-changers with a lash what would he do faced with

rapists and murderers?

[pinboy3niner]

22. Steal one of Pontius Pilate's tanks?

http://basementrejects.com/review/jesus-christ-superstar-1973/

[ND-Dem]

31. you mean there were no rapists or murderers in jesus' time? Just money changers and the like?

Jesus' criticisms seem to revolve around people abusing the poor though.

And his violence is limited to cursing a fig tree and whipping the money-changers.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

35. "you mean there were no rapists or murderers in jesus' time?"

Obviously that cannot be true. Ergo the reason Jesus never spoke against rapists and murderers is because the situation was never one of debate.

Jesus never commanded people to make themselves victims of the cruel and malicious.

[ND-Dem]

54. ...

38"You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39"But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40"If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.…

Matthew 5:40
And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

Luke 6:29
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

Luke 6:30
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

John 18:23
"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?"

1 Corinthians 6/7
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

Luke 6:29 And to him that smites you on the one cheek offer also the other...

James 5:6 You have condemned and killed the just; and he does not resist you.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

62. And you take this as an unction to passivity in the face of rape and murder?

[ND-Dem]

64. i don't think i've expressed a personal opinion on the matter.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

69. Whatever.

[Iggo]

18. And what has Brett done to the least of them?

Or is that just a one-way thing?

[dilby]

26. Watched it, pretty interesting. I think the Soldier of Christ is a label that obviously

creates an image of a Crusader however this is a guy who went there to protect the indigenous Christians from ISIS and I think that is a noble thing. He would probably be better off with maybe calling himself a Shield of Christ, since he is there for defense and not offense.

[blm]

32. Much more thoughtful tact.

And, I agree. Though I am an atheist, I appreciate those who practice their religion as part of their service to humanity.

[dbackjon]

37. These Mercenaries should never be allowed back in the US

Regardless of what side they are on.

[CJCRANE]

39. That's just what the war profiteers want: useful idiots on both sides

feeding themselves into the war machine for fun and profit.

[blm]

44. BINGO!

.

[ND-Dem]

61. +100

[Skidmore]

63. Exactly.

And they care not one whit how many lives are lost or decimated as these tools line up behind their version of god and lay waste to the land.

[rurallib]

68. So if this guy gets captured by ISIS and is beheaded

do we send in the troops to avenge his death?
Certainly there will be those who want us to.

[blm]

70. Bill O'Reilly will direct his 'religious war' troops to their FOXholes.

Guns….God….Freedom….yada yada.