Our last not so excellent adventure in the Middle East was to save the world from non-existent WMD's. Our next adventure, if Foxpriest Fr. Jonathan Morris gets his way, will be to save Middle Eastern Christians. Who doesn't love a crusade!
While Muslims are getting the brunt of Middle East violence, Christians are also being brutally persecuted. So given the popularity of the Fox persecuted Christian meme, it wasn't surprising to hear Fox's Catholic clerical mouthpiece for right wing talking points Fr. Jonathan Morris, continue to promote this meme as a way to bash the president who - wait for it - should send our troops back to the Middle East to save the Christians!
On yesterday's Fox & Friends, Anna Kooiman began with a report on ISIS' execution of Coptic Christians. The banner framed the message of rampant Christian persecution: "Christians Under Siege." Clayton Morris cited statistics that show rampant Christian persecution and asked "what will it take."
Fr. Morris spoke about how religious leaders brought this problem to our attention. He cited a comment from the Pope which "suggested military action." The banner: "Holy War." He "thanked God" for the anti-Muslim, anti-gay Franklin Graham who "has been very outspoken about what's going on." His blue eyes got wider and his voice softer as he quoted an Iraqi arch-bishop who said "the airstrikes are not enough." Morris explained that this cleric is "suggesting more military action."
Given that the GOP is always complaining about how the president doesn't have a "strategy," it was no coincidence that Fr. Morris wished that world leaders would "come up with a strategy." Not surprisingly, he was "disappointed" that Obama's military force re-authorization didn't provide any ground troops. He channeled the neo-con/John McCain gospel when he claimed that a three year limit on force because it's saying "we will not go as far as we need to go to stop ISIS."
With his best jazz hands, Fr. Morris opined that political leaders need to prioritize the plight of persecuted Christians. He wanted Obama to say that our "strategy" is to not allow Middle East Christians to be massacred. He didn't mention that we were instrumental in helping the Yazidis but, of course, they're not Christians.
Fr. Morris talked about we are reaching a "tipping point" now that the Iraqi arch-bishop says we need more airstrikes and "is begging for an international outcry." Fr. Morris is hoping that "international leaders will coalesce around real strategy" to save the Christians. The banner provided Fox's official take in the form of a question: "Boots on the Ground, Will More Military Manpower Save Christians?"
So Fox's very special priest who wants to send our men and women in harm's way to save Christians? Pope Urban called the first crusade because "God wills it." History repeats itself with Fr. Jonathan Morris calling for a new crusade because Roger Ailes wills it and Fr. Morris would never question the word of his Fox god!
Oh, right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq-be7Y_yyY