God's on our side, of course

Suddenly everybody is wondering what role Bush's religious faith plays in U.S. foreign policy. The BBC casts an amused look at the ubiquitous religious culture of the U.S. and of Presidents in particular, suggesting that Bush's born-again beliefs conceivably influence his willingness to start a Mideast war. The New York Times Magazine covered similar ground last week, albeit from a closer perspective. (Archived version) But Sunday's Guardian has a more alarming, direct, perspective:President Bush is under pressure to clarify his position on the role evangelical Christian aid groups are set to play in post-war Iraq. Responding to criticism that workers from at least two evangelical groups whose leaders have denounced Islam are massing in Jordan to bring a Gospel message to Iraq's Muslims, the White House attempted to distance itself from the idea that the war is a crusade to convert the nation to Christianity.

That comes after the Washington Post had this story Friday:

The Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination, and Samaritan's Purse, run by the Rev. Franklin Graham, said they are ready to provide emergency shelter, food aid and medical care to Iraq's mostly Muslim population. The announcements raised concerns among U.S. Muslim leaders that the groups intend to proselytize in Iraq.