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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Army Report Says Christians Threaten US Foreign Policy

Army Report Says Christians Threaten US Foreign Policy
By Chuck Baldwin
April 14, 2010


This column is temporarily archived at:
http://newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin582.htm


Last Friday, I told readers of this column that I had come across a very
disturbing government report and that I would be exposing that report during
my Sunday address this past Sunday morning. I did exactly that, and anyone
wishing to see an archived video of that address can do so by using this
link (the video should be uploaded by this weekend):

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/sermonvideo.php

The report's header reads, "Strategic Implications of American
Millennialism, A Monograph by MAJOR Brian L. Stuckert, U.S. Army. This
monograph was defended by the degree candidate on 01 May 2008 and approved
by the monograph director and reader named below. Approved by: Timothy
Challans, Ph.D., Monograph Director; Robert Taylor, COL, MI, Monograph
Reader; Stefan J. Banach, COL, IN, Director, School of Advanced Military
Studies; Robert F. Baumann, Ph.D., Director, Graduate Degree Programs." The
School of Advanced Military Studies, United States Army Command and General
Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, produced the report.

Here is the TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Why Millennialism Matters
The Role of Civil Religion and Culture
Millennial Theologies in America
Post-Millennialism and the Founding of America
Civil War, World War and the Rise of Pre-Millennialism
Israel, Nuclear War and the Last Days
Contemporary Pre-Millennialism in the American Electorate
Contemporary Pre-Millennialism and American Culture
The Holy Land and Armageddon: U.S. Policy in the Middle East
Anti-Christ, Gog, Magog, and Armies From the East
Conclusions and Recommendations
Bibliography

Remember, this is not a Christian university report or even a secular
university's religion department report, but rather a report written by an
active duty Army major (who is now stationed in Afghanistan, I am told) for
one of America's war colleges. Before analyzing this report, here are some
questions to ponder. Whose brainchild was this report? Did the major select
the topic himself or did a superior assign it to him? To whom exactly was
the report distributed? How was the report used? What are the
interconnections between this report and the MIAC and Department of Homeland
Security reports that draw similar conclusions? And perhaps the biggest
question is, What does this report portend for government action in the
future?

When Major Stuckert speaks of millennialism, he is referring to the Biblical
doctrine of Eschatology--specifically, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to
the earth to institute a 1,000-year (millennial) reign. He recognizes some
of the nuances of this doctrine in his study, most notably
post-millennialism and pre-millennialism. His report is heavily focused on
pre-millennialism, however.

At this point, I feel it is necessary to make this observation: whether one
is a post-millennialist or a pre-millennialist, the fact that we Christians
believe in the literal return of Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His
Kingdom puts us in the same boat, as far as the ramifications of Major
Stuckert's report--and similar reports--are concerned. We Christians need to
recognize that, as far as the Stuckerts of this world are concerned, because
we believe the Bible and we believe in the literal return of Christ, we are
considered an enemy. We can disagree with one another all we want to about
whether there is a Rapture (and if there is one, when it will occur),
whether Christ will return before or after a millennial kingdom takes place,
and scores of other theological differences, but none of that is important
to the events at hand: there is a growing sense among many governmental and
military leaders in America that Bible-believing Christians are an enemy
that must be marginalized, warned about, watched, and even controlled. And
it does not matter to a tinker's dam to these Machiavellians whether one is
a post-millennialist or a pre-millennialist. If we believe the Bible and
believe that Jesus is coming again, they consider us "dangerous." And we
Christians better wake up to this stark reality, stop fighting each other,
and focus on working together to preserve our liberties!

And one more early observation: there is an eerie and uncanny connection
between the verbiage and spirit of Stuckert's report and the now-infamous
MIAC and Homeland Security reports. The timing, too, is significant. The
MIAC and Homeland Security reports were produced shortly after Major
Stuckert's report was produced. A coincidence? Not on your life!

Here are some excerpts from Stuckert's report:

"Millennialism has great explanatory value, significant policy implications,
and creates potential vulnerabilities that adversaries may exploit."
(Abstract, page iii.)

"These factors [results of millennial belief] can be problematic for any
military leader or planner attempting to achieve U.S. Government policy
objectives through strategy, operations and programs." (Abstract, page iv.)

Notice that from the very outset of this report, Stuckert asserts that
Christians who believe in the Second Coming create circumstances or
conditions that might be "problematic" for America's military leaders. We
Christians also create "potential vulnerabilities" that America's enemies
may "exploit," according to Stuckert. Furthermore, Stuckert laments that we
Christians may even interfere with "U.S. Government policy objectives."

Pray tell, exactly what are those "U.S. Government policy objectives" that
Christians might prove to be "problematic" for? And is Major Stuckert
suggesting that those Christian military officers currently serving in the
US armed forces are somehow "problematic" to "U.S. Government policy
objectives"? And do these same Christian officers make America "vulnerable"
to our enemies? Is he suggesting that military officers in the US armed
forces who believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ be expunged from
military service, because of their beliefs?

As one will observe when reading the 61-page treatise, Major Stuckert, with
a broad brush, paints millennialist Christians as being serious problems for
America's foreign policy and for "U.S. Government policy objectives," and
that we must be dealt with; but he offers no details on what, exactly,
should be done. Or if he did, that part of his treatise is not a matter of
public record.

More quotes:

"The impact of American millennial religious ideas on U.S. Government policy
will add to strategic hubris, compel increasingly reckless international
action, and continue to over-commit the military in ways the Nation cannot
afford." (Page 1)

Again, notice that Christians who believe in Christ's return add to pride,
recklessness, and war. Good grief! I suppose that we Christians are also
responsible for the escalating price of gas and oil too--and maybe even
global warming!

Stuckert continues:

"First, millennial thought and its policy implications may create strategic
transparency that affords adversaries an advantage in decision-making.
Second, an understanding of American millennial thinking may provide
adversaries with the means to manipulate American policy and subsequent
action. Third, the enemy may exploit American millennialism to increase the
fragility of and even disrupt coalitions. Fourth, adversaries may exploit
American millennialism to demoralize or TERRORIZE joint forces and the
American people. By recognizing these potential vulnerabilities, military
leaders and planners may TAKE ACTION NOW to mitigate the effects." (Page 2.
Emphasis added.)

Dear reader, is the hair standing up on the back of your neck yet? If not,
it should be!

According to Major Stuckert, the belief in Christ's Second Coming makes us
vulnerable to America's adversaries. In fact, these adversaries (are they
foreign or domestic? He doesn't specify) might even exploit this belief to
"TERRORIZE . . . the American people." (Emphasis added.)

There's that "T" word again! Do you now see the connection to the MIAC and
Homeland Security reports? Is it all starting to make sense now? Because we
believe in the literal return of Christ to the earth, do people such as
Major Stuckert consider us to be potential terrorists?

And just what does Stuckert mean by the statement, "Military leaders and
planners may take action now to mitigate the effects"? Does he propose that
we Christians be rounded up and put in all these FEMA camps (that don't
exist)? Just how does he plan for the US military to "mitigate" the effects
of us Christians? This statement is downright chilling!

In this report, Major Stuckert specifically mentions the holiness and
Pentecostal churches; as well as the Assemblies of God; non-denominational
churches; and Independent and Southern Baptists. Again, anyone who believes
in the Second Coming of Christ is targeted in this report. According to
Stuckert, "Millennialism actually refers to any system of belief or
interpretation that employs a literal thousand years, or chiliad, in reading
and applying Revelation 20:1-7." (Page 9)

Stuckert even went so far as to say that Christian "mission work, especially
overseas, [has] significant implications for U.S. foreign policy." (Page 27)

I bet that when you folks make that financial donation to your church's
foreign missions program you have no idea that you are causing significant
(negative) implications for US foreign policy. Well, Stuckert thinks you
are.

Stuckert also berates Millennialists for "[driving] the U.S. further from
the U.N. in the near future since many pre-millennialists have to come to
view that body as a platform for the Anti-Christ." He went on to say,
"American pre-millennialists will also feel increasingly threatened by the
E.U. in coming years." And, "Pre-millennial interpretations of biblical
prophecy that predict the emergence of a one-world government led by an
anti-Christ causes distrust and even antagonism toward organizations like
the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the European Union, NAFTA
and OPEC." (Page 52)

In other words, folks, Stuckert is greatly chagrined that we Christians do
not, and will not, accept the push toward global government being
orchestrated by institutions such as the UN, the EU, et al. He feels that
because we oppose NAFTA, GATT, the WTO, the FTAA, and the overall NEW WORLD
ORDER agenda, we are "problematic" and must be "mitigated."

Stuckert goes on to blame Christians for "problems for relations between the
U.S. and Russia" (Page 53), problems in the Middle East and China (Page 56),
as well as coming "global disaster." (Page 55)

Major Stuckert then makes an incredible admission on page 58. He said, "War
is primarily about politics. While geography and technology play a role, in
order to be successful military leaders must be able to see the political
goals as clearly as possible. Because of the influence of pre-millennialism,
it can be difficult for military leaders to see themselves and their
government accurately and state policy goals objectively."

What did he say? "War is primarily about politics"? I thought war was about
defending the people and territory of the United States. I thought war was
about protecting freedom and liberty. War is about politics? So that's why
our young men are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan? It's all about
politics? If so, whose politics? Major Stuckert's? Barack Obama's? George W.
Bush's? The CFR's? The UN's? Exactly whose politics is sending our sons and
daughters to fight and die? The good major doesn't say.

But did you catch that last sentence? "Because of the influence of
pre-millennialism [and he could just as easily have said
post-millennialism], it can be difficult for military leaders to see
themselves and their government accurately and state policy goals
objectively."

Holy cow! Belief in the Second Coming blinds military leaders? They cannot
see themselves or their government accurately? What the heck does this mean?
Is Stuckert saying that because a military officer believes the
Bible--believes in the return of Christ to the earth--he or she cannot see
themselves and cannot "see" their government properly? Exactly what is it
about his or her government that cannot be accurately seen? Maybe Stuckert
means that because a Christian military officer believes in God, he or she
cannot recognize government to be his or her god. Is that it, Major
Stuckert? You want us all to see the US federal government as god?

On page 59, Stuckert accuses belief in millennialism of producing "pessimism
and paranoia." On the same page, he accuses people who believe in
millennialism of causing a "predisposition toward pessimism in world affairs
and a general worsening of international relations."

Yeah! That's right, Major! You devote 61 pages (and untold hours producing
them) accusing Christians of bringing "global disaster" to the world, but we
are the ones who are paranoid? If that isn't the pot calling the kettle
black, I don't know what is.

On page 60, Stuckert blames Christians for having a "proclivity for clear
differentiations between good, evil, right, and wrong [which] do not always
serve us well in foreign relations or security policy." Oh! Really?

Is Stuckert saying that there is no right and wrong in regard to America's
policies with foreign nations? Is he saying that there is no such thing as
right and wrong in regard to security policies? Is Stuckert saying the US
government should be able to do whatever it likes, regardless of right and
wrong? Is he saying that anything done in the name of "security" is right,
regardless of what it is? Is it right to lie to the American people, Mr.
Stuckert? Is it right to violate the US Constitution? Is it right to murder?
If there is no such thing as right and wrong, moral and immoral, in regard
to the waging of war and other security matters, pray tell, what were those
Nuremberg trials all about?

In researching this column, I found a World Net Daily report written by Bob
Unruh on December 19, 2009. In his report, Unruh said that an Army spokesman
"could not say whether any other writings ever had attacked a religious
belief as Stuckert's work." That's a good point. Where is the Army report
that singles out people who embrace Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, or liberal
Protestantism as being "problematic" to America's foreign policy? Why is it
that only people who embrace conservative Christianity, or
fundamentalism/millennialism were singled out?

Unruh's report also notes that "no study or article refuting" Stuckert's
report has been discovered. Therefore, absent a counterpoint, it might be
accurate to conclude that Stuckert's report has become de facto US
government policy. It certainly does appear that the particulars of
Stuckert's report made their way to both the MIAC and DHS reports.

See Bob Unruh's report at:

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=119315

See Major Stuckert's report at:

http://tinyurl.com/am-millennialism-pdf

My Sunday address exposing Major Stuckert's report will be uploaded to my
web site later this week. When it is posted, it will be available to
download and distribute. It will be titled, "Seeds of Christian Persecution
Growing in the US." Watch for it at:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/sermonvideo.php

P.S. I am very sorry that a hacker has inflicted serious disruption to the
server that hosts my web site, Chuck Baldwin Live. As a result, my site is
temporarily off line. We hope to have this situation resolved within the
next day or two. In the meantime, you can access a skeleton version of my
web site at:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/homebackup/

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(c) Chuck Baldwin

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1 comment:

  1. Joe Ortiz's "Secret" Blog !

    In fact, his "End Times Passover" blog of April 10th has more than one secret - and Ice, LaHaye, and Lindsey aren't exactly happy because it reveals in living color what they are REALLY peddling! Please open his blog SLOWLY because it is unbelievably explosive since the lead story is titled "Pretrib Rapture Secrecy?"

    ReplyDelete

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