Hegseth Invokes Divine Purpose to Justify Military Might

[Zorro]

He spoke of “overwhelming force” and the U.S. military’s unmatched ability to rain “death and destruction from above” on its “apocalyptic” Iranian foes.

Then, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing in the Pentagon, issued a call to the American people for a specific kind of wartime prayer. He asked them to pray for victory in battle and the safety of their troops.

“Every day, on bended knee, with your family, in your schools, in your churches,” he said, “in the name of Jesus Christ.”

At a time when the U.S. and Israeli militaries are dropping thousands of bombs on a majority-Shiite Muslim nation, the explicitly Christian nature of Mr. Hegseth’s call stood out.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/us/politics/hegseth-christianity-military.html?unlocked_article_code=1.U1A.0PMT.xekNat-VsSMR&smid=url-share

Killing people in the name of Christ is sooooo Republican.

[Norrrm]

1. Other faiths can also claim divine purpose.

[mwmisses4289]

2. Yup. Iran's mullahs have called the U.S the great satan

and see it as their duty to destroy us.
I believe they see isreal the same way. And of course, some hardliners in the government of Israel see it as their divine right, their calling from god/yahweh, to destroy all their enemies, whoever they decide they may be.

[slightlv]

3. And then there are others of us...

who just want to live in harmony with nature, as our ancestors taught -- Living in cooperation with Nature and with others. "Divine right" has no purpose other than to make one tribe of people feel superior to another. It's an excuse to kill. And this administration, more so than any other, anywhere, has shown it doesn't take a feeling of superiority for humans to kill humans. Humans will kill others just for kicks. If one we could breed THIS aspect out of humanity, we'd be so much better off. In my easy thinking days, my belief of less testosterone would get us a ways down that road. Other days, I think harder and admit you can see the same, regardless of gender... maybe just not so much. Administrations and groups have for decades blamed entertainment and video games for the increase in homicide and cruelty. Gore's wife, in particular, made video games a scapegoat. And while I believe they can coarsen sensitivities to cruelty, I don't think they make one prone to killing someone. I wish we could devote as much money towards finding an answer to this than we do towards dropping bombs. But too many people find dropping bombs to be so much more "fun." ARGH

[surfered]

4. I've been looking in the Bible and I can't find that part that says

Yea verily, I say unto you, rain death snd destruction from above on your fellow man.

Nope, haven’t found it anywhere,

[Zorro]

5. Might be a verse or two along those lines in the Old Testament

The New Testament is too woke.