Shelling Mosques

To the letters Editor of The Times for publication:

Let's put ourselves in the place of the people in the Middle East as they watch the Americans firing artillery shells at their mosques in Fallujah.

This is equivalent to us in England watching Muslims shelling Salisbury Cathedral. Even our atheists would not be happy about this.

We can only begin to guess at the hatred that this is building up towards our British service personnel in Iraq who are allied with the Americans.

Michael Roll

In the published letter, the editor added "I presume" to the sentence "Even our atheists would not be happy about this."

November 20, 2004
To the Letters Editor of The Times:

Many readers seem to miss the main thrust of my previous letter. By asking me what I would do if a sniper was firing at me from a mosque?

The British and American ambassadors, experts on the Middle East, who wrote letters pleading with politicians not to go in with all guns blazing knew this is exactly what would happen. Sadly they were written off by many as the "Camel Corps" who thought like Laurence of Arabia.

The people in the Middle East have been taught the truth about the crusades. A very different version to what we have been taught in the West. Millions saw on television news an American padre urging on the marines to kill the bad guys over there because "we have God on our side." Yes, the mullahs are doing exactly the same thing with their fighters. Whether we like it or not we have got mixed up in a religious war.

Michael Roll

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004
Subject: Liked your article

Michael,

I am from the US and read your letter in the Times. Many of us here cannot imagine what life must be like for Iraqi civilians as they watch their country reduced to rubble in a war they did not provoke, for a cause they cannot understand.

Thankfully 55 million Americans voted for change, but alas, not quite enough numbers to get the job done.

B...
Holliston Mass. USA

We can stop the Third World War, but only if we all fight very hard indeed - E-mail from Michael Roll to Jeff Rense (August 20, 2002)

Bush Primed by Evangelicals for Armageddon Scenario

"Do you think President Bush, a Christian man, believes or knows he's involved with prophetic events concerning the Middle East and the final battle between good and evil?"

Shelling Mosques - Letter from Michael Roll to The Times (London) (November 18, 2004)

Backing coalition actions in Iraq - a reply from Lieutenant-General Sir Martin Garrod (November 22, 2004)

"We are fortunate that President Bush was re-elected. He, and the United States, might indeed save the Western world - but it would be good if he received a little assistance from Europe in so doing."

Screams will not be heard - Madeleine Bunting, The Guardian (November 8, 2004)

This is how the fantasy runs: a city the size of Brighton is now only ever referred to as a "militants' stronghold" or "insurgents' redoubt". The city is being "softened up" with precision attacks from the air. Pacifying Falluja has become the key to stabilising the country ahead of the January elections. The "final assault" is imminent, in which the foreigners who have infiltrated the almost deserted Iraqi city with their extremist Islam will be "cleared", "rooted out" or "crushed". Or, as one marine put it: "We will win the hearts and minds of Falluja by ridding the city of insurgents. We're doing that by patrolling the streets and killing the enemy."

Bush says God chose him to lead his nation - The Observer (November 2, 2003)

"President George W. Bush stood before a cheering crowd at a Dallas Christian youth centre last week, and told them about being 'born again' as a Christian.

'If you change their heart, then they change their behaviour. I know,' he said, referring to his own conversion, which led to him giving up drinking.

Behind Bush were two banners. 'King of Kings', proclaimed one. 'Lord of Lords', said the other. The symbolism of how fervent Christianity has become deeply entwined with the most powerful man on the planet could not have been stronger.

Few US Presidents have been as openly religious as Bush. Now a new book has lifted the lid on how deep those Christian convictions run. It will stir up controversy at a time when the administration is keen to portray its 'war on terror' as non-religious."