crusades anyone?

i'm not the first to mention it (see shane claiborne's newest book, jesus for president), but does anyone else get creeped out by our politicians (namely prezbush) declaring that the war in iraq is God's plan? here's the direct prezbush quote: "and then God would tell me, George go and end the tyranny in Iraq,’ and I did.”

here's sarah palin making a similar declaration at a church. she says: "our leaders - our national leaders - are sending them out on a task that is from God."



here's what hitler said about his leadership and decisions during the holocaust: "i believe that i am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord."

i recognize that our actions in iraq are not a holocaust. but the disregard with which our leaders bring God into the discussion is what disturbs me. of course, one cannot ignore that according to the world health organization (who), the iraqi death toll was over 150,000 (back in january of 2008)...i'll leave that one alone or save it for another post.