Beautiful Wild Flowers and an Old House Down the Road

What a beautiful spring and summer!

The Third Video From Iraq

Here is the third video in the series made about the work of Canon Andrew White and his work in Baghdad and across the Middle East.

                       http://www.vice.com/vice-special/the-vicar-of-baghdad-part-3-921

On a Light Note...

I found this on facebook, and I was just wondering... since it worked so well on feet... if I put it on my face...

Probably not a good idea...

Failure is a Sorry State of Being

Maliki has announced he is there to stay, and dismissed two Ministers in the Iraqi government in order to install two of his sons in those positions.  We (the United States.) have allowed corruption in Iraq, and that corruption is going to cost everything gained, and every hope for liberty in Iraq.  Not that it certainly was not there in the first place, but once we undertook the mission of reducing the threat, which I am certain was there, we made obligations for ourselves. Not to mention that as I type, and immense threat toward America is growing daily in Iraq.  When the entity with true power allows, either by failure to diligently monitor, assess, and investigate thoroughly the processes and money allowed, and in many cases funded to be in place, or just turns a blind eye to suspicions in order not to offend, it always results in catastrophic failure and the waste of resources, to include human lives.  When we left in 2011, we were the entity with the most power.

Despite what our military said about the capabilities of the Iraqi Army before they left, is now being alleged that it was only an empty shell with no real strength or organization at all.  In fact it is alleged that Iraqi generals created "fake soldiers," with paperwork, and then collected the salaries paid these phony soldiers for their own pockets.  Meanwhile, Maliki continued to steal billions (proven in a UN report last year,) and of course he could not come down heavily on the lesser pockets of corruption without drawing attention to his own.  Corruption always breeds corruption.  

When those conditions exist in a military organization, there is little loyalty or national pride and devotion, it is just a job, and a job which when the dangers become very serious, is easily abandoned.  Corrupt military leaders who stole money for food, equipment, and of course salaries, were the most significant of the reasons why ISIS so easily walked over the Iraqi Army.

Tremendous U.S. resources were poured into the Iraqi Army.  Training was provided by U.S. personnel highly skilled in military, as well as those same type of trainers for the police force of Iraq.  There were soldiers and policemen present in those training sessions.  Not only that, but equipment and other resources were poured into their numbers.  Somehow, those resources are not evidenced in the present force of the Iraqi Army or their police force.  

I do not believe that the majority of the people of Iraq desire the force which is presently taking over, to govern them, but when common people of a country have so little, and so little opportunity to have anything, they are easy prey for the forces of evil.  Yet programs and American dollars have been poured into Iraq for the benefit of the common people of Iraq. I believe there exists a sacred duty toward every American dollar sent or spent, to administer those funds and to ensure through whatever means necessary, that complete accountability is had.

God help us all, and send us men and women not only who are willing to take up arms and defend liberty, but those of moral courage who are willing to be the guardians of processes, contracts, and those dollars spent implementing and running them.  These persons must be willing to do so with diligence, honor, and without bias of any kind.  Men and women who are unafraid, and selfless enough to disregard their own career ambitions are needed.  It seems that in government service in this country, your career is only well served by positive reports of all that you supervise. To frankly speak out to identify the true problems, corruptions, and self serving individuals who wreck havoc with the sacrifices and resources offered up by true patriots, is not rewarded.  There are reasons for that, so when God does send us such people, the current leadership must be such that they are allowed to perform their duty.

        "Among a people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist."  Edmund Burke

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sc10604.doc.htm

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/sc10472.doc.htm

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IQ/IraqUNAMI-OHCHR_HR_Report2011_en.pdf

http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR291_The_Iraq_Federal_Police.pdf

Albert Einstein Said It Best

I am watching Iraq more carefully than most folks for several reasons, the first being my husband's three and a half years of service there.  Our friendship and deep respect for Canon Andrew White, and the work for God he is doing, and the people of Iraq which he is involved iin ministering to has touched my soul, and created in me my own yearning for the people of Iraq to know peace and prosperity. Those people of Iraq whom I have formed relationships with that have been supported by Internet communication, have come to mean so much to me, and their fate hangs in the air.  It is looking dark to me in Iraq.

Another component which compels my heart and soul has to do with the men and women of the Coalition Forces who have given so much, several from my own family, including a son-in-law seriously wounded.  Their families too have had their lives and personal security affected greatly as their loved ones served.

The Sunni and the Kurds have walked out of the Parliament in Iraq, and things are not looking good in Iraq.  Once again the reasons being revealed for this present state of affairs will lead back to corrupt people being allowed to continue in their corruption.  In all of civilized time, that has always led to failure to thrive...

I think I will be writing from my own observations and conclusions, what I see as the pitfalls which have brought Iraq to this dark place.  Always it seems to me, failure lies in lack of honorable leadership, leadership which is willing to speak the truth, really examine what is going on, and take the actions necessary to deal with the evil elements always present in our world.

The world is a dangerous place to live - not because of the people who are evil but because of the people who don't do anything about it.
-- Albert Einstein

Here is the Second Video From Brother Andrew

This is the second video in a series of three about the work of Canon Andrew White of the Anglican Church of England, who pastors St. George's Church in Baghdad, Iraq. We should each watch with the mind of all God has blessed us with, and how so many suffer the world around, especially in Iraq.  God help the people of Iraq!

                 http://www.vice.com/vice-special/the-vicar-of-baghdad-part-2-141

I Have Been Waiting and Waiting For This to Come Out!

These films, there are three of them, are about the work of our dear friend Canon Andrew White in Baghdad, Iraq.  His courage is born of his love of God, and his knowledge of God, and God's love for the people of Iraq.  I could not embed the video, just follow the link... Amazing story!!!

                      http://www.vice.com/vice-special/the-vicar-of-baghdad-part-1-484

Brother Andrew visiting our home in 2013.