Dear friends:

Why are the U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq?  Why was Saddam overthrown?  Why have more than 3,000 Americans and other coalition forces lost their lives there?

You will get a different answer depending on where you are on the political spectrum.  The left will say it is all a scam, a mistake, or a wicked Bush conspiracy.  The right will say it was mainly to protect us from Saddam's WMDs, which we know he had because he had used them on his own people, and there is insider testimonial evidence he hid them in Syria before our forces arrived (largely ignored by the mainstream media).  The right would also say a secondary spin-off purpose is to create a democratic government in the turbulent area.

The conflict and disagreement are causing much acrimony among the citizens, and fodder for demagoguery among the self-seeking politicians.

But I do not believe that either of the left or the right is correct!

The real reason is probably not realized by anyone in government, or at least by only a few.  I doubt that even President Bush understands why he was guided in this way. The real reason is known only to God and the spiritually discerning among us.  And the real reason dare not be made public lest it cause a civil uproar.

That reason we are in Iraq -- to protect Israel. 

The President would deny it.  The State Department would deny it.  Neither probably even realize it.  They think their reasoning is based on other factors.  They probably cannot see the transcendent power and purposes of God.

Saddam saw himself as a modern-day Nebuchadnezzar.  He was obsessed with destroying Israel so that the Arab world would recognize his greatness, and worship him as the world's exalted Arab leader.  He was an extreme megalomaniac.   He either had or was working on having new WMDs for this main purpose.  In 1981, Israel had previously destroyed Saddam's new nuclear facility, slowing his progress and ambition.  During the first Gulf War, Saddam fired 39 missiles at Israel, no coincidence the number of stripes that Jesus took at His execution.

We know that Israel is the key to prophecy and the key player in the end times.  Events affecting Israel cannot be looked upon in normal geopolitical terms.  Little Israel is the key to everything that is happening in the Middle East and, in fact, the world. 

Thus, the need to protect oil resources, or to protect the West from WMDs, or to liberate an oppressed people from a crazed mass murderer, at best are only surface reasons Saddam was overthrown and reasons undiscerning humans can debate.

The real reason for going into Iraq was to protect Israel, "the apple of God's eye," or at least buy time for her end-time role in God's prophetic plan. 

Now, Israel is faced with another threat of annihilation, from Iran, as well as division of the land, making it more vulnerable.  America is ambivalent on this: opposing Iran but supporting the land division.  With Iran, we see biblical coalitions forming, such as in Ezekiel chapter 38. 

But God has a plan.  The transcendent power and purposes of God will become manifested regardless of what any other country does.  He is in control and will see it through.

In the meantime, as politicians rant, rave, and disagree about us being in Iraq, you can smile.  You know the real reason.

Jim