I pray that this war ends quickly.
I pray that the United States gets what it wants, for the world is definitely not safer if the last remaining superpower is humbled, even if their own government's belligerence helped to get us there.
I pray for the American soldiers, that they conduct themselves well on the battlefield. That they can march in parades afterward. That they don't return in bodybags or in coffins wrapped in flags.
I pray that there will be no more monuments. I pray that every soldier gets to see their children grow up, that every child gets to see their parents with grey hair.
I pray the families can hold their heads up by day, and sleep well at night, knowing that they helped make lives better.
I pray for the people of Iraq, who suffered for decades under a formerly Western-backed dictator, but probably wanted him to end with a whimper, not a bang. I pray that democracy flourishes, and that Iraq becomes a beacon for the other countries in the Middle East to aspire to, not a martyr to rally around.
I pray that the Kurds will be happy. That they will feel they have a place in a federated post-Saddam Iraq. That the Turks don't decide to shoot at them. Or the Iranians. Or even us.
I pray for our leaders, for George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, who saw fit to risk hundreds of thousands of American lives and the stability of the region. I pray that they know what they're doing and that they will get to say "see, I told you so", and nobody else.
I pray that the Islamic world forgives us.
I pray that all my fears are unjustified.
Lord, hear my prayer.
Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream
lyrics by Ed McCurdy (thanks to David for the correction)
Last night I had the strangest dream
I ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war
I dreamed I saw a mighty room
The room was filled with men
And the paper they were signing said
They'd never fight again
And when the papers all were signed
And a million copies made
They all joined hands end bowed their heeds
And grateful prayers were prayed
And the people in the streets below
Were dancing round and round
And guns and swords and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground
Last night I had the strangest dream
I ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war