"For we do not contend against flesh and blood...."

Holy War or not a Holy War? That is the question. We all know that to the Islamic Jihadist this is a holy war; a fight to the death between the followers of Mohammed against all Christians and Jews and against our muslim allies (who the Jihadist considers "apostates" or traitors to their faith). But how do we see our global war on terror? I've offered a couple of views on how (if I were king) I'd fight this war, but I've been remiss in not expessing my view on the most important weapon in our arsenal.
You see (or maybe you don't see)...this is a holy war. We were alseep at the wheel (or more correctly, we were asleep at the altar) on 9/11 when Mohamed Atta and his gag of murders flew into the twin towers and the pentagon. When we recovered from our shock, we invaded Afghanistan (which was the right thing to do) and a 18 months later we invaded Iraq (which I also believe was the right thing to do). We bloodied the enemy, but we have not defeated him yet. Why? We've used our economic might, our superior techology, our better trained soldiers, and still the enemy fights on. He fights on desperately because we have not crushed this serpant beneath our heel by fully bringing to bear our most powerful weapon, prayer.
I don't know your views on religion or on the power of prayer, but if you'll bear with me for a few minutes, I think I can show you that no matter how many troops we send to Afghanistan and Iraq, no matter how good our intelligence or how superior our equipment, we will not win the war on terror until America joins it's soldiers and begins to fight from it's knees.
In Judges chapter 6, you'll find the tale of how the childern of Israel were being oppressed by the Midianites, and a guy named Gideon was called by an angel of the Lord to deliver Israel. The first thing Gideon did was offer a sacrifice to God. Then he threw down the temple of Ba'al and built an altar to Jehovah. After that Gideon gathered an army of 10,000 men. But God told him it was too big. If he defeated the Midianites with such an army, God wouldn't get the credit. In the end, Gideon and 300 men routed the entire Midianite army.
Then there's David and Goliath. You probably know how that went down, even if you only go to church on Easter and Christmas. David defeated the most feared fighter in the middle east with prayer and a sling shot, then cut off his head and took it on tour.
Joshua didn't bring down the walls of Jericho with smart bombs or Abram tanks, either.
But those are Bible stories you say? How about General George S. Patton and his Third Army? During December 1944, Patton's Third was bogged down in Germany by bad weather, so he got a chaplin to write this prayer and send it to his troops. "Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen." The very next morning, the weather cleared and Patton's Third Army proceeded to march out and kick some Nazi butt. Can you imagine the howl if an American general did that today?
Then there's the story of the Marine tank platoon on the verge of invading Kuwait. The night before they are to cross the border, an unexpected rain storm blows across the desert. In the morning the marines wake up to find a mine field uncovered by the previous night's downpour. When a Marine lieutenant told his mom the story when he returned home, she explained to him that very night she had lead a prayer group praying for their protection.
I have walked through the Valley of the Shadow of Death myself on a couple of occassion and watched as some fell on my left and right hand, but I'm sitting here today. Not because I'm holy or because of my M4 carbine and body armor, but because Christians covered me with the power of prayer.
We will not win the war on terror on the battle grounds of Iraq and Afghanistan until we fight it in the spiritual realm. "For our war is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the powers of darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
We fight Islamic Jihadist who follow the teachings of a false prophet. They are deluded madmen who think nothing of blowing to bits two dozen muslim children waiting to get a piece of candy from infidel American soldier. Do you honestly think murders like that are not influenced by the powers of darkness of this world? We are locked in a real live (pardon the pun), honest to God battle between good and evil. If America sits back and just waits for her troops to carry the day, a lot of brave young men and women will die passing out candy and kicking in doors while Satan sits back and has a good laugh. It's time you realized that America and get to fighting.

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

SSG JDale