Onward Christian Soldier: Donald Rumsfeld Reportedly Sent Briefing Booklets on Iraq War to Bush Containing Inspirational Biblical Sayings

GQ has an array of daily briefing booklet sent by Donald Rumsfeld to George W. Bush on the Iraq war and the war on terror that featured Biblical sayings. This is the reading prepared for a president who called the war on terror a “crusade.” Such Biblical inspirational sayings as “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him…To deliver their soul from death” were coupled with triumphant pictures for the President’s daily briefings. The covers read like a Sunday school workbook for an adolescent student.

Strangely missing from the briefings on Christian war-fighting is Matthew 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Less surprising is the omission of Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”

What is interesting about this report is that these covers are likely to be used by our enemies to show that America does view its war on terror in biblical terms like a crusade. Under the standard recently adopted (from the Bush administration) by President Obama, such documents would be embarrassing to the nation and be used by our enemies — thus could be withheld from disclosure.

For a slideshow of the covers, click here.

For the pictures and story, click here.