To the Journal editor:

The deterioration of the situation in Iraq, resurgence of Bashar al-Assad and Egyptian army’s ouster of their democratically-elected President make it hard to believe the “Arab Spring” will flourish. The Iraq war only helped corporations, not the Iraqi people.

Rand Paul explains, “When the Iraq war started, Halliburton got a billion-dollar no-bid contract. Some of the stuff has been so shoddy that our soldiers are over there dying in the shower from electrocution But it really shouldn’t be that these people are so powerful that they direct even policy.” (April 7, 2009 speech at WKU)

What does Mr. Paul mean? He means that our former vice president was so powerful he used his clout to enrich himself and his corporate buddies. Dwight Eisenhower warned us of this in his admonition to “beware of the military-industrial complex.” Fact-checking reveals the biggest winners in Iraq were arms manufacturers. This must stop.

The way to people’s hearts and minds is not through violence, but through love and support. In Isaiah 9:6 we learn, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jesus Christ was destined to govern the world in peace and love, not war!

Many Americans calling themselves Christians are misled regarding Christ’s teachings regarding love, tolerance, and peace. If we were real Christian warriors, we would replace our violent military with an army of loving warriors bringing food, medicine, self-esteem and education to the Middle East.

Violence begets violence. Hate directed toward Muslims is reflected back at Christians via violent extremist organizations. The way to break the cycle is to lift the population out of poverty and into peace.

Rather then spending billions on ineffective arms and wars, we can begin here in the U.S. by diverting funds to clean energy, education, and jobs creation while enlisting a Christian volunteer army of Loving Warriors to spread help throughout the world. It is time to “Give Peace a Chance.” (John Lennon).

We will soon be electing a new legislature and president. If you consider yourself a Christian and are seeking a candidate who embraces Christian values, look for the candidate of peace.

Isabel Francis

Marquette