Over 200 troops complained that their commanders told them Iran was part of God’s plan. Sounds like good leadership to me.
Call me crazy, but when troops are told the divine plan for Iran includes them, that sounds like leadership to me. A Guardian article came out this week saying the Military Religious Freedom Foundation got over 200 complaints from service members claiming their commanders invoked Christian “end times” rhetoric about the strikes. Two hundred complaints. Out of the entire military. That’s a rounding error.
One commander reportedly told his troops that President Trump had been “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran.” Now, I wouldn’t put it *exactly* like that, but the man had the right instinct. You don’t send people into combat with a PowerPoint. You give them something *bigger*. My boss at the hardware store tried motivating us with a pizza party once. Didn’t work. You know what works? Purpose.
A Divine Plan Beats a Deployment Briefing
The complaints reportedly came from over 40 units across at least 30 military installations, covering every branch. The foundation’s president, Mikey Weinstein—who is apparently a professional complainer—said the reports show commanders expressing “unrestricted euphoria” about a “biblically-sanctioned war.” And I’m supposed to be *upset* about this? Euphoric commanders sound like motivated commanders to me. When’s the last time anyone complained about their boss being *too excited* about the mission?
Denise—my wife, who has asked me not to mention her—pointed out that the complaint was filed on behalf of 15 troops, including 11 Christians. “So the Christians are complaining about Christianity?” I said. She gave me the look she gives me when she thinks I’m missing the point, which is the same look she gives me about forty percent of the time.
Separation of Church and Common Sense
Now, these watchdog types keep bringing up the separation of church and state, like the Founders sat around in Philadelphia worrying about whether a sergeant might mention Jesus during a war in the Middle East. I’ve read about the Constitution—my neighbor Gary has a copy, though I think it’s a placemat version—and the First Amendment says *Congress* shall make no law. Last I checked, a briefing room isn’t Congress.
Morale Is What You Make of It
The complaint said the Christian messaging destroyed “morale and unit cohesion.” Destroyed it? Or *created* it? Because from where I’m sitting—and I’m sitting in my recliner, which is where I do my best analysis—giving troops a divine plan sounds like a morale *boost*. When I was selling water filtration systems in 2012, we had a motivational speaker talk about our “higher calling.” Did I lose four thousand dollars? Yes. But I was *motivated*.
The Pentagon hasn’t responded to requests for comment, which reporters think is suspicious. I think it means they’re busy fighting a war. But Weinstein says his foundation will “Chronicle, Expose, Intervene, Attack.” Four verbs. Very aggressive for a man whose job is complaining about other people’s prayers.
Some people say mixing religion and military orders violates the constitutional oath every service member takes. A soldier who thinks God sent him is a soldier who *fights*. That’s just common sense. And I’m full of it.
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