WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO IRAQ?

I mean, it's still there, as far as I know but it appears to have disappeared from the pages of the British press.
I am sure it is still a front page item in the USA. Yesterday, three more US soldiers were killed. Two when an Iraqi soldier opened fire on them at Ghazlani Training Centre and the third soldier was killed in a separate incident but details, so far, are being witheld.
Of course, 'our' troops are, largely out of the arena of warfare but, even so, we need to be reminded of the trials that are still taking place and we need to pray for a cessation of the violence against Allied troops.

The war continues in Iraq

Now we have more news of a fresh wave of Iraqi Christian refugeees forced to flee across the border into Turkey. Some are just sending their children with echoes of the wartime  evacuees. Over 600 Chaldean Christians arrived in Turkey during December 2010 and the trend is set to continue as terrorism against Christians spreads from the South of Iraq to the Kurdish North, previously a secure stronghold against the Muslim fanatics.

Without wishing to stir up unjust feelings of resentment, it does appear as if the Islamic world has declared violent action against all Christians: Iraq, Nigeria, Sudan, Pakistan, Indonesia - wherever one looks in the world terrible murders of the faithful and burning of churches is taking place.
We can offer our support to Allied troops and to those suffering from these persecutions by praying for a cessation of aggression -

O God, Who bringest wars to nought and shieldest by Thy power all who hope in Thee, overthrowing those that assail them; help Thy servants who implore Thy mercy; so that the fierce might of their enemies may be brought low and we may never cease to praise and thank Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one world without end. Amen

A cry for peace from a 3 year old, and then he is shot dead

3 year old Adam, shot through the mouth

This is 3 year old Adam who was brutally martyred by Islamic fundamentalists on 31 October in Baghdad. May God receive his soul into Heaven.
He was one of seventy innocents (Assyrian Catholic Christians) who were murdered in their church. H/T  http://orbiscatholicussecundus.blogspot.com/
This does not make comfortable reading; terrorists entered the Church and began shooting the congregation indiscriminately. Little Adam shouted to the gunmen to stop and then one forced a gun into Adam's mouth and shot him.
Christians in Iraq are under massive threats to their lives. They are murdered in their Churches and now they are being targeted in groups or singly. They are shot out of hand or, often, blown up if they are in a group.
Pray for peace to come to Iraq, pray for the souls of the Holy Innocents murdered for the Faith and pray also for those who commit the acts of violence against them that God may remove the scales from their eyes and enlighten them as to the truth.
If you wish to help please visit http://www.unheardcries.com/

Our Lady weeps...

The bomb damaged face of the statue of Our Lady of Salvation outside the church of the same name in Baghdad where 3 priests and 49 lay people were martyred.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord

And let perpetual light shine upon them

May they rest in peace. Amen.