The War in/on Iraq (Or, What's in a Preposition?)

At the outset, I want you to know that I only have questions.

It has been three years and I am still very much saddened by our involvement in Iraq. I don't think we should have gone to war. Would we have been justified going to war even if WMDs had been discovered? I don't think so. And, anyway, how do you win a war against terrorism? How far do we go with this war? Do we engage in arguably terrorist activity in our pursuit to stomp out terrorism? (Terror: violence [as bombing] committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands.)

Could terrorism be more effectively dismantled in some other way?

What ought the Church's response to this war have been? And what ought it to be? As followers of Christ, how ought we to act?

Let me make it clear that I do believe that it is important to pray for the men and women involved in this conflict (on all levels). We want no harm to come to them and we want them to act justly on behalf of the oppressed while they are on foreign soil.

Now, I am glad that Hussein is on trial, and I hope Iraq will eventually be able to put itself back together as a peaceful nation. But here are some of my questions: How many countries have leaders that need deposing? Will our deposition of one tyrant solve a country's problems? Is the United States right in taking on the responsibility of deposing a tyrant? Or should that be left to a more international group? Should we use the UN to handle such international problems? (Granted, there needs to be some reform within the UN, but it seems to me that we may be hurting ourselves tomorrow by ignoring the requests of the UN today.)

Sadly, I am not very involved in the goings-on in Iraq. In fact, I've put blinders on so that I don't have to think about it. I don't like thinking about it. Perhaps these very questions have been hammered out by others. If so, I'm certain they did so with a better understanding of the situation and I would love to be pointed in the right direction.

And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. (Luke 1, Magnificat [partial], ESV)