ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

So here's a thought - the Caliph's forces are killing and driving out the Chaldean Christians. Chaldeans are part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

So - where, in all this, is the freaking Pope?

Seriously Papa - you have some actual skin in the game for the first time in a couple of centuries and nothing?

I'm not asking for a Crusade, but still, can we have some strongly worded condemnation of the Caliphate, please?

Which is to say - it really shows how anaemic Christianity is vs Islam.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I don't think Pope Francis would make much of a warmonger.

[Kralizec]

Which is to say - it really shows how anaemic Christianity is vs Islam.

Dunno, I think the maronites in Lebanon would disagree with that...as would the other communities in that country.

PS: I had to look up "anaemic"

[Fragony]

PS: I had to look up "anaemic"

I read aramaic at first so I had to look it up as well, when I looked up 'anaemic' I got a site about some sort of medical condition. It's a decrease of red blood cells. That certainly seems to be a condition in Syria and surroundings but not for medical reasons.

[Kadagar_AV]

Yeah, I know, but unless a Hittite registers in the next few days, you're it, deal with it.. Hittites are cooler, sorry.

You guys even have a footie club in Sweden.

Well, not in the major league. It's some backwater team from one of the ghetto suburbs. More known for fights on the field than any actual, say, sport.

Yup, that's us!

Yeah, The team is a disgrace over here. So save your ethnic pride for later, if ever.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

The Holy Father's response has been restrained so far.

This is hardly surprising. His namesake was hardly an advocate for the church militant.

[rvg]

The Holy Father's response has been restrained so far.

This is hardly surprising. His namesake was hardly an advocate for the church militant.

Yeah, he really can't say much here. Besides, words won't get things very far. I won't be surprised if he lends a hand financially, which will help far more than any words.

[Hooahguy]

I really hope you are right about there never being more boots on the ground from the US again, but I have a feeling that it won't take long before we are back in there. Or we go in the opposite direction and just completely abandon the region.

Link to said VICE documentary series. Part 2 is also up.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I think that Vice series kind of backs up what TuffStuffMcGruff said a while ago - that some guys are actually having the time of their lives in the Syrian (and now also Iraqi) conflict.

Have a swim with the kids at the beach, pop around doing speeches from your ice cream van, go fire a few shots on the frontline, then head home for a street party.

I think if war was half as horrible as we thought it was, it wouldn't be happening all the time. Don't get me wrong I've seen the pictures of ISIS' beheaded enemies and their throats being slit (not for the faint of heart), but for most people their day to day experience is probably more what we saw in that video.

[Pannonian]

So here's a thought - the Caliph's forces are killing and driving out the Chaldean Christians. Chaldeans are part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

So - where, in all this, is the freaking Pope?

Seriously Papa - you have some actual skin in the game for the first time in a couple of centuries and nothing?

I'm not asking for a Crusade, but still, can we have some strongly worded condemnation of the Caliphate, please?

Which is to say - it really shows how anaemic Christianity is vs Islam.

If you want militant Christians, you can always look for them in central Africa. Like militant Muslims, you've got a religious veneer over older tribal practices. Be careful what you'll stir up though, as I doubt they'll be any more pleasant than the Muslim bunch (probably a lot worse actually).