Tony Blair Has Helped Destroy One of the Oldest Churches on Earth
Arrogant, but stupid; know-it-all, but vacuous. Tony Blair – the man that screwed things up. Highly-paid because people are stupid and gullible. Photo: Google Images
TELEGRAPH BLOGS: If George Bush and Tony Blair were "crusaders", as Muslims insist, then they were the worst in history. Worst, that is, as in the most ineffective. What other Crusade has resulted in the Christian population of a country being almost totally destroyed?

Now that the Americans are leaving Iraq, the ancient Christian community, who converted in the second century while our ancestors were still worshipping rocks, and who still speak Aramaic, will pay the ultimate price. Nice one, Tony, you've helped to destroy one of the oldest Christian communities on earth and with it the language of Christ. Stick that on the wall of your inter-faith centre. >>> Ed West | Monday, May 11, 2009

Pope Calls for an End to the War in Iraq
REUTERS: VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, elevating 23 prelates from around the world to the rank of cardinal, made a pressing appeal on Saturday for an end to the war in Iraq and decried the plight of the country's Christian minority.

One of the new cardinals is Emmanuel III Delly, the Baghdad-based Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, and the Pope used the solemn occasion, known as a consistory, to express his concern for the country.

The other new cardinals come from Italy, Ireland, Germany, the United States, Spain, India, Argentina, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Senegal, Brazil and France.

Speaking of Delly during the ceremony in St Peter's Basilica, Benedict said Christians in Iraq were "feeling with their own flesh the dramatic consequences of an enduring conflict ... "

The Chaldeans are Iraq's biggest Christian group and the Chaldean rite is one of the most ancient of the Catholic Church. Pope makes new cardinals, calls for end to Iraq war (more) By Philip Pullella

Mark Alexander