Saying “I told you so,” is generally considered arrogant and self-indulgent in our society.  Therefore, most of us avoid using the phrase.  But, I told you so.

For three years I have been writing that attempts to establish a democracy in Iraq are futile.  We have now reached the place that even the most optimistic supporters of the idea are looking for ways to save face.

This is not a commentary on the war against terrorism or even the war in Iraq .  Failure to build a democratic government in Iraq is not due to our lack of military might or expertise.  This attempt has failed because President Bush did not understand Islam. 

From a distance Islam appears to have commonality with Christianity.   Both believe in a Supreme Being who created the world.  Both believe in rewards for the faithful and eternal punishment for the disobedient.  Christianity and Islam share the basic world view of a transcendent God who watches over His creation from heaven. 

All of this leads many to assume that Christian values and ideas can be found in Islam. 

But in reality, the basic tenets of Islam are diametrically opposed to Christianity.  Christianity is based upon a benevolent loving God who offers salvation to those who choose to believe in His Son Jesus Christ.  Islam is based upon an angry vengeful God who demands complete submission from the faithful and immediate death to the rebellious.

Christianity’s founding tenet is man made in the image of God with a free will to choose right and wrong.  Islam, on the other hand, teaches that everything that happens is the will of God.  It is extreme predestination.  Islamic theology has no place for a right of self-determination. 

Christianity teaches us to love our neighbor as our self.  Islam teaches that true Muslims are required to kill all who do not convert.

Westerners are searching frantically for a moderate version of Islam to politically embrace.  We want to get along with Muslims.  But since we do not understand Islam’s foundational teachings, we also fail to understand that a moderate version of Islam is an anomaly that true Muslims are duty bound to destroy.  That’s why our attempts to build such a government in Iran have been met with extreme violence.  What we are attempting to do is considered blasphemy by Muslims.

Modern democracy came into being in the crucible of protestant Christianity.  America ’s Founding Fathers understood that this form of government, granting personal freedom, could only work in a society where man’s sin nature and free will were understood and balanced.

President John Adams stated very clearly that, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.”

When President Adams wrote “moral and religious” he was referring to Christianity.  Just any moral structure won’t work. 

So by expecting Muslims to adopt democracy, we are actually expecting them to adopt Christian values.  It will never work. 

This is not to say that our War on Terror will not succeed.  Nor is it meant as a criticism of our president whom I pray for and support.  But it is obviously time to re-evaluate the goals in Iraq .  I told you so.

Pastor Steven G. Dyer