These individuals are doing what the governments of the post-Christian West have shown no interest in doing: protecting the Christians persecuted by the Islamic State. But since they self-identify as Christian, watch for them to be vilified and demonized by the mainstream media, and held up as the equivalent of the Islamic State: Christians committing violence in the name of their religion on one side, and Muslims committing violence in the name of their religion on the other. That these men have gone there to prevent atrocities rather than commit them will be glossed over and ignored.
“Westerners join Iraqi Christian militia to fight Islamic State,” by Isabel Coles, Reuters, February 15, 2015:
(Reuters) – Saint Michael, the archangel of battle, is tattooed across the back of a U.S. army veteran who recently returned to Iraq and joined a Christian militia fighting Islamic State in what he sees as a biblical war between good and evil.
Brett, 28, carries the same thumb-worn pocket Bible he did whilst deployed to Iraq in 2006 – a picture of the Virgin Mary tucked inside its pages and his favorite verses highlighted.
“It’s very different,” he said, asked how the experiences compared. “Here I’m fighting for a people and for a faith, and the enemy is much bigger and more brutal.”
Thousands of foreigners have flocked to Iraq and Syria in the past two years, mostly to join Islamic State, but a handful of idealistic Westerners are enlisting as well, citing frustration their governments are not doing more to combat the ultra-radical Islamists or prevent the suffering of innocents.
The militia they joined is called Dwekh Nawsha – meaning self-sacrifice in the ancient Aramaic language spoken by Christ and still used by Assyrian Christians, who consider themselves the indigenous people of Iraq.
A map on the wall in the office of the Assyrian political party affiliated with Dwekh Nawsha marks the Christian towns in northern Iraq, fanning out around the city of Mosul.
The majority are now under control of Islamic State, which overran Mosul last summer and issued am ultimatum to Christians: pay a tax, convert to Islam, or die by the sword. Most fled.
Dwekh Nawsha operates alongside Kurdish peshmerga forces to protect Christian villages on the frontline in Nineveh province.
“These are some of the only towns in Nineveh where church bells ring. In every other town the bells have gone silent, and that’s unacceptable,” said Brett, who has “The King of Nineveh” written in Arabic on the front of his army vest….
Tim shut down his construction business in Britain last year, sold his house and bought two plane tickets to Iraq: one for himself and another for a 44-year-old American software engineer he met through the internet.
The men joined up at Dubai airport, flew to the Kurdish city of Suleimaniyah and took a taxi to Duhok, where they arrived last week.
“I’m here to make a difference and hopefully put a stop to some atrocities,” said 38-year-old Tim, who previously worked in the prison service. “I’m just an average guy from England really.”…
michael johnson says
I believe in turn the other cheek and follow peace with all men but the bible also states that its a time for war I am tired of muslims controlling Christians and trying to destroy western civilization its time for another crusade its time to take back the lands that were once Christian and reclaim them in the name of jesus Christ our weak goverments wont defend us they act like they are afraid of muslims I ONLY WISH I COULD JOIN THIS CHRISTIAN ARMY IN BATTLE AGAINST MUSLIMS AND ISLAM MY PRAYERS ARE WITH THOSE WHO BATTLE ISLAM
mortimer says
Our Western governments are doing too little to defend the indigenous peoples of the East, especially Christians.
It should not be left to volunteers to do this important job of arresting the ISIS criminals.
Peggy says
If any western governments compare these brave men to Islam we must turn out in large numbers protesting against the governement and their evil sidekicks, the media.
God give them success.
Richie says
This is what it will come to in Europe when Muslims have mass executions in European countries and the socialist governments refuse to act- the citizens will unite and fight back
Cecily Longbottom says
This is so encouraging! I hope thousands of strong Christians will join them. Let’s pray hard for the Christian militia.
Yes, Pope Francis, it is time for another Crusade.
Linde Barrera says
God bless those very brave Christian men for trying to help the Syrian and Iraqi Christians. Let us pray for their success, and their protection by our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Cecily says
This is so encouraging. Our prayers are with these wonderful volunteers. I wish I could go.
Yes, Pope Francis, it is time to call another Crusade. We cannot sit idly by while the barbarians kill the Christians.
Rob says
Well, considering that the first Crusade occurred 300 years AFTER the turning point of Islam’s incursions into Europe at the Battle of Tours/Poitiers, I don’t see this Pope (or the next several) calling for a military response. Especially since the current dialogue-driven approaches are making such great progress!
Julio says
God bless these courageous men.
MKG says
May Gog bless and watch over them.
Take note folks, this is just the beginning. Many of us would like to stand with such brave men and women, but responsibilities keep us elsewhere. Still, make preparations, you may not be going to war, war may however be coming to you. We are already seeing a rise in incidents in Europe, Canada and in the US. That is, the incidents that even make the news. Remember, it has to get worse before it gets better. Be patient and prepare for the worst.
William Zawacki says
Agree 100%. We should all live our lives moving forward with a heightened sense of “situational awareness” and prepare to defend ourselves right here at home. Elements of ISIS/ISIL are already entrenched in the US. It will require eternal vigilance and a willingness/ability to defend ourselves, our ways of life and our freedoms when the need arises.
RonaldB says
These volunteers, and the Christian and Kurdish army in general, are going to have a problem with the Western governments. The problem is that warfare is not pretty, and in fighting the Islamic state, the defenders may have to be as brutal, or more brutal, than the Muslim fighters of ISIS.
Going by past history, once the Christians begin to gain ground, they will be subjected to an ethical scrutiny that that will be far more stringent than the polite shock manifested by the Western governments. I’m not sure I would support US troops intervening, as I can’t think of an instance where US intervention wasn’t totally screwed up. Certainly not since 1951 Korea. But it’s quite possible the US and allies will declare an embargo, or perhaps even threaten to bomb the Christians if they make too many inroads into the ISIS territory. Crazy as it sounds, it’s happened before. The US bombed Christian Serbians who were overrunning invading Muslim armies in Bosnia.
I’m simplifying complex issues, but my point is that Western forces are simply not allowed to gain a clear-cut victory over Muslim aggressors, and the enforcement is done by the West.
dumbledoresarmy says
Judging from the article, some of these men who are volunteering are men who have *army* backgrounds. They have combat experience and they *know* just how dirty Muslims fight. Men such as this – with US or British army background, combat and weapons training, maybe officer training, and real-world experience of fighting Muslims, whether in Afghanistan or in Iraq – know *just* what they are getting into, and I hope they will be able to train and guide those of their companions who do not.
I also hope the ex-army guys are tucking into their backpacks everything they can lay their hands on, about Orde Wingate and what he did for the Jews of Israel in the 1930s, with the ‘special night squads’, and then with the Ethiopians, with “Gideon Force”, and about Sir Stanley Savige, and “Dunsterforce”. The other thing they could probably use is S K Malik’s “The Quranic Concept of War” and Mr Robert Spencer’s “Onward Muslim Soldiers”. *Those* two books will get them right inside the enemy’s head. (And they will know to give 100 percent trust *only* to non-Muslims).
The other two books they need (and these are slim enough to tuck into the bottom of a back pack) are Mark Durie’s “The Third Choice” and “Liberty to the Captives”. Those two books will help them understand the depth of trauma – physical and spiritual – that their Assyrian Christian colleagues and fellow-fighters have been subjected to, for generation upon generation, and how much help and encouragement these people need, as they renounce the dhimma and claim their freedom as human beings. Both those books need to be translated into Arabic and into the form of Syriac that the Assyrian Christians use, as fast as possible.
pumbar says
If i wasn’t so old and rotund…
dumbledoresarmy says
Back when the Greek Christians were shaking off dhimmitude and rising up against their Turkish Muslim oppressors, and fighting for their freedom (and it should be borne in mind that countries like Britain were, in the main, siding with/ appeasing the *Ottoman empie*) young idealists from all over western Europe rushed to help the Greeks. Lord Byron was one of them.
Looks like there are those from across the Infidel world who are hearing the same distant call that drew their long ago forefathers to assist the Greeks and, centuries before that, to join the Knights of Saint John at Malta in 1565.
I know where John Quincy Adams would stand. Here is what he had to say about the Greek war of independence.
“If ever insurrection was holy in the eyes of God, such was that of the Greeks against their Mahometan oppressors.
” Yet for six long years, they were suffered to be overwhelmed by the whole mass of the Ottoman power; cheered only by the sympathies of all the civilized world, but without a finger raised to sustain or relieve them by the Christian governments of Europe…”.
dumbledoresarmy says
The Order of the Phoenix.
Lia Wissing says
As a 72-year-old woman I’d be of little use in the battle, but I’m praying for you brave men.
dumbledoresarmy says
From 1490-1564, men like this were joining the order of the Knights of Saint John. And they were ‘outliers’,wild knights, knights errant, at a time when many governments in the West were already more inclined to appease and do deals with the Ummah, than to resist.
From this article, on the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, when the Knights of Saint John held the gate of the Western Mediterranean against the might of the Ottoman Muslim fleet.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=466818&in_page_id=1770
THE KNIGHTS OF ST JOHN OF MALTA
History’s bloodiest siege used human heads as cannonballs
By JAMES JACKSON.
Excerpt:
“The Muslims had hundreds of ships and an army tens of thousands strong.
“The Christians were a ragtag bunch of just a few hundred hard-bitten knights and some local peasant soldiers with a few thousand Spanish infantry. Malta looked doomed.
“That the Hospitaller Knights of St John existed at all was a minor miracle.
” They were a medieval relic, an order established originally to look after ailing pilgrims to the Holy Lands during the Crusades 300 years earlier – other orders of the Crusades, such as the Knights Templar, had been extinct for two-and-a-half centuries.
“They came from countries all over Europe: Germany, Portugal, France, Spain.
“All that united them was a burning desire to defend Christendom against what they perceived as the ever-encroaching tide of Islam. [sic: the author should have written – “against what they **correctly** perceived as the ever-encroaching tide of Islam”. – dda].
“Yet by the 16th century, an age of the increasing power of nation states, these trans-national zealots were viewed as an embarrassing anachronism by much of Europe.”
dumbledoresarmy says
From the article – “The militia they joined is called Dwekh Nawsha – meaning self-sacrifice in the ancient Aramaic language spoken by Christ and still used by Assyrian Christians, who consider themselves the indigenous people of Iraq.”
See what that Reuters reporter just wrote? – “Assyrian Christians, who **consider themselves** the indigenous people of Iraq”.
They only *consider* they are? But they ARE. It’s a plain documented historical and archaeological *fact*. Their churches and monasteries predate Islam. Their language, in Mesopotamia, predates Arabic. They ARE the indigenous people of Iraq: one of the last links – along with the Mandaeans and possibly the Yazidi – to the pre-islamic non-Arab history and culture and language of Mesopotamia. They are the last remnant of the pre-Islamic non-Arab population and culture. How *dare* Reuters imply, in that throwaway phrase “consider themselves”, that their claim to be the indigenous people is open to question and might even be false??
Leg1on says
Well said.
dumbledoresarmy says
Saint George.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George#mediaviewer/File:George_novgorod.jpg
Saint Michael.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_(archangel)#mediaviewer/File:Michael4.jpg
John Duffin says
Im all for bringing and end to ISIS. However, it can be done in a secular manner, and should not be done in a religious one. Bringing and end to ISIS in the name of Christianity just ensures more of defending of the faith down the road for our children for the next religious crazies. Mental illness is mental illness. Hiding mental illness behind a religion gets humanity nowhere. Think of the children. No religions equal a lot less wars. If you want your children to die in the name of a holy rock, book or shrine, by all means, go ahead. Your children will never realize the concept of living in peace though.
pumbar says
Are you having a laugh mate or what?
eib says
Such gentle atheist words mr. duffin. Religion is not mental illness. Our adversaries are criminals adhering to the “revelation” of a sociopath. If I were younger and sound in corpore, I would fight and even die alongside these Chirstians gladly. I know where you stand. Better get to the mosque, you have already surrendered.
TH says
Are you suggesting that religion is the cause of wars and conflicts? Islam is a case apart as it iis more a totalitarian political and social system than a religion in the strict sense, but you cannot put Christianity in the same bag. Plus neither Communism nor Nazism had a religious fundation, yet between them they caused the death of at least 100 million people. Plus, religion is part of human nature. What is atheism in favor of and how can it achieve it. It is negative, that is, against God, and partiuclarly Christianity.
Western Canadian says
And another low-church atheist makes a total ass of himself on this site…. You are not in the least well educated or well informed on religion or warfare, if you actually manage to believe the drivel you posted here….. While islam (RTC) has average 20 million murders a century, your atheistic brethren have managed to murder over 5 times that in a single century… Hardly a matter for pride, do you think? If you leave islam (RTC) out if it, the more legitimate religions have been responsible for a surprisingly small numbers of conflicts, with a surprisingly low number of deaths (Even though I have been studying military history for more years than I will admit to, I was stunned when I first heard this, traced it back to it’s source, and found it to be true… GOVERNMENT is the source of wars, claimed royalty and especially ATHEISTIC government being the most guilty parties), when the populations lose or never have control of them…. Keep your ignorant and hate filled raving to yourself, you only confirm that your ‘opinion’ is worthless.
Angemon says
Those militias need all the help they can get. War vets can be very important assets – they can train and teach the militias.
Semeru says
Strange there was no mention of the bikers who went a few months ago
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2798507/now-german-biker-gangs-join-dutch-counterparts-fighting-against-isis-kobane.html
This is the way to combat Islam
HV says
These people are not good Christians, and Christians need to tell them that. It is unbiblical and wrong to pick up a weapon on your own initiative.
The Bible tells us to respect our governments. So if a Christian is in fact a soldier and he is in fact sent to Iraq, then he should go, provided the mission makes sense.
But a Christian should never ever pick up arms on his own. God has very clearly given that authority to a government and not to individual men. War is not a Christian activity. It is a secular activity. Therefore the authority lies alone with the government (Rom. 13:1, Peter 2:13).
What we must do is to pray for “all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Tim. 2:2).
Not even in attempts to defend the innocent should we on our own pick up weapons. God tells us: “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52)
We are not to act as instruments of divine wrath and God tells us clearly to “leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). Ultimately God will deal with the evil ones.
And over and over Christ tells us not to oppose the evil ones. “Do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:39). Governments are allowed to resist evil persons (e.g. put them in jail). Individuals are not.
We should not hate our enemies. As a Christian you are clearly instructed to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44). This is Christ speaking to all.
War can be just in some cases. But the authority is given to governments, not to individual Christians. As individuals we must submit to our governments and leave war (which is in essence secular even though it is against a satanic murder cult such as IS) to them. That does not mean that a Christian cannot be a police officer or a soldier: He definitely can. But that is under the authority of the government! And that is very different from just picking up a weapon and going to a war zone! These people are arrogant in their belief that they are able to go to a war zone and make a difference. And they will end up failing, shooting at the wrong people, damaging the coordinated efforts by real authorities, and ultimately dying by the sword just like God told them NOT to do.
If they are in fact Christians, they need to wake up! Put away the weapons and pick up the Bible.
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17)
And remember: “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light”. (Romans 13:12).
MKG says
Very well argued HS, however this is not war as we like to call it, even myself, what we are ultimately facing is extermination. Which is exactly what will happen if we do not fight, with or without the government’s consent.
Mike Elmore says
HV, by your reasoning you are basically saying it’s ok to kill as long as a secular government ( what ever that definition is ) tells you to do so.? So government trumps religious beliefs and faith. Garbage. This is precisely why victory and the fight with Islam can’t be won. Do you and your ilk honestly believe that ” Not even in attempts to defend the innocent should we on our own pick up weapons.” is what Christ would want you to do.. more Garbage. Just shows how morally impoverished you are..Mike Elmore
AnneM says
In truth, the Christian faith is NOT a sucide pack. God Bless those who are putting on weapons as Paul spoke of in Ephesians Chapter 6.
AnneM says
Even Jesus said to “sell your cloak to get a sword”. Plus Jesus used violence to clean out the temple not once, but twice.
ce527 says
The instruction by Jesus to go buy swords was not him approving or in any way mandating violence. It was to fulfill Old Testament prophecy in which it was said that the Messiah would be arrested while being armed, and he said as much when his disciples returned with only two swords – hardly enough to start a revolution or even protect themselves against a squad of armored Roman soldiers. Jesus’s message was 100% pacifistic. The violence he demonstrated in the temple was directed against tables and chairs, not against human beings.
Western Canadian says
You are an ignorant blowhard, who’s ‘knowledge’ of scripture is pathetic.
Matthieu Baudin says
Reminds one of those who enlisted with the International Brigades of the Spanish Civil War; but this cause has an even greater moral calling. Perhaps an international volunteer force may one day get behind terrorised religious communities struggling to hold back and ultimately defeat Boko Haram.
dumbledoresarmy says
Imagine if black Americans (non-Muslim) got a *real* education about Islam – say, from listening to Simon Deng, and reading about St Josephina Bakhita, and reading Carol Swain and checking out Warner’s Centre for the Study of Political Islam, or listening to Lt Col (ret) Allen West – and then…decided to go to Africa and help their fellow African non-Muslims defend themselves!
Crixus says
God bless these men, a credit to their faith and to their nations, unlike the chinless dhimmi apologists who have the affrontery to govern our countries.
Those of us who are too old and fat to join in need to ensure we are doing our part by doing whatever it takes to support and succour these heroes no matter what our so called governments say.
Thomas Cherian Mullamootil says
I think the volunteers services are more needed here in USA and Western Europe than in Syria. I think it will be a lost cause going to fight for Christians in Syria.
If they have to take out terrorists they don’t have to go to Syria – they are already here in USA and Europe esp. England.
The greatest threat the West is facing is Muslim Immigration & to a lesser extend immigration as such. It is high time to curtail that to a trickle. It is very easy to achieve that – just have 80% of the legal immigration to people born in Central and South America. Just by the virtue that Islam is non existent in C&S America the Muslim immigration from to USA from current level of 150,000 will drop to 15000. This will not be unconstitutional as USA prior to 965 had a quota for Europe.
It will be politically untenable for democrats to oppose quota for Hispanics. I am also cool with zero immigration or at least have the quota reduced from current 1 million to half a million.
It is also important that Western World redirect Muslim refuges to Saudi/IRAN/Turkey/Indonesia and other Muslim countries as the Muslims will be better off in countries with SHARIA.
Give the refuge quota to Christians who are fleeing Muslim oppression just like Bibi is calling Jews to immigrate to Israel.
Peace,
Brown Skinned Immigrant
Marco says
In order to get refugee status some Iraqi Christians I know lied and said they were muslims. Imam obama does not want Christians here. Neither does the rest of the west. I hope i live to see some of the bastards who are causing the destruction of our society by the minions of satan get whats coming to them. These are perilous times and I pray for all who fight on the side of light and love and the true God.
Actually I dont wish to see anyone suffer but anger does cause you to say/post angry things.
ce527 says
It is unfortunate that people who value freedom have to fight, to put their lives at risk, in order to maintain that freedom, but that has always been and will always be the price of freedom. But while I agree that we must fight Islam, using physical force at times, I wish that no people who go into this battle under the banner of “Christianity”. It is perfectly okay to fight to defend Christians, Jews, people of other beliefs and even non-violent Muslims, but the message of Jesus Christ was 100% pacifistic. He personally mandated no violence for ANY reason, including self defense, and he exemplified that message by allowing his detractors to brutally torture and murder him, even though he supposedly had the power of God at his fingertips.
If people are so motivated and have them means and will, then let them go fight ISIS because it is EVIL and needs to be fought and defeated, not because it is the “Christian” thing to do. It is not.
DeusLoVult says
Do you forget that Jesus chased thieves from the temple with a whip? He is not a pacifist. In fact, if you have ever read Revelations, you would know that Jesus is coming back to fight the heathens. You need to go back and study your Bible again. Defending your fellow Christians from harm is not contradictory to the teachings of Jesus.
AnneM says
AMEN.
As I had posted in a previous post, the Christain faith is NEVER a sucide pac.
Linde Barrera says
I am a 63 year old Christian lady, and recently retired public school teacher. I am so annoyed that my US government doesn’t do enough research when it comes to getting involved in wars and conflicts of other nations. One thing I learned a few months ago was that there are 40 nations with a Muslim population of over 70%. Yet most of these countries want no part in fighting ISIS, and those few who say they are also fund ISIS. Their rationale is most likely from what their so called prophet Muhammed said “War is deceit.” While that is certainly true from many an ideological viewpoints, it is ironical and twisted from the Muslim view because they see other Muslims as “brothers” and therefore don’t want to fight their “brothers”. That is why their so called leaders ask for help from the west, so we Christians and Jews of civilized, inclusive nations will do their dirty work for them. Mark Twain said : “Loyalty to your nation always; loyalty to a government when it deserves it.” It is sickening that in our US government now, the biggest $ contributors have the biggest say. I was taught and used to teach that democracy was not determined by the marketplace. It appears that is not so true anymore in the US. Makes me sick and utterly sad. Does anyone see this as the US inevitably caving in on itself?
Richie says
Sadly an American doing this would face arrest and serious jail time
Richie says
Hopefully there can be groups like in Taranttino’s film ‘Inglorious Basters’ – instead of a group tracking down and killing Nazis, they could do the same to these homicidal Isis Muslims- find and kill as many as possible
Linda Rivera says
God bless and protect these wonderful heroes who have joined the fight for innocents. May God grant the Christians, Yazidis, Kurds and Peshmerga great victory over ISIS demonic monsters.
May the thousands of Yazidi and Christian girls captured by ISIS monsters for sex slaves, be rescued. Please God, Send your Guardian Warrior Angels, to fight against Your enemies, ISIS savages who delight in breaking Your Holy Laws, Amen. To God be the Glory forever.
Dag says
I’ve begged people here for over ten years to go to war againt jihadis abroad. Now I find I should have joined an outlaw biker gang. Well, it’s never too late.
Dag says
Write to me if you want to have some adventure. No one is too old for this. No one is too fat. As always, there are excuses, and mostly there is dead silence. At last, perhaps, there is a real chance to get into it full-blown. I’m still in the Amazon jungle, but as soon as I wrap it up here I’ll be off again. You really can do this if you want to. No one is stopping you but you.
Dag, Son of Walker.
Crazy Rodger says
At 118kg, 182cm I’m pretty sure I qualify as too fat even if I can bench more than my own weight. I’d probably be great as a sandbag though.
Maronite Warrior says
Onward Christian Soldiers ….
Godspeed
Michael Johnson says
im glad to see Christians helping other Christians in fighting Islamic terror i believe that we should follow peace with all men turn the other cheek and forgive but when someone is burning your churches raping women and children and selling them as slaves time for talk is over im a Christian but there is no way i would allow a muslim to burn my church up rape my wife and daughter sell them as slaves and just watch i would take up arms against islam im for Christians and jews arming themselves and fighting muslims who would try to kill them or their brothers nd sisters in the lord im not militant i just believe GOD put a man over his family and brothers in the church to protect the women children and elderly if it came down to it came down to it were muslim tried to do those things over here in the west i would definitely take up arms against islam