When wars break out in foreign countries, I usually like to do some research and form my own opinion. Unless it is a war where I am personally invested, I don’t publicly voice my opinion, but rather share it with my friends and family if it comes up. I do this because I am not a country specific expert in a lot of countries, and there are always two sides to a story. In the world of asymmetrical, or 4th Generation, warfare it becomes even more difficult to take sides because it is characterized by a nation state not having complete control over combat forces ( i.e. terrorist groups working within one or multiple countries, without necessarily working for those countries ).

There are just a few reasons that I will decide to go public with my opinion, and the top of that list is that an organization has actively tried to end my life. I understand that there is always a back story as to why these groups resort to the tactics that they do, but when you try to kill me and take credit for the attack, I no longer care.

In Iraq, it was Jaysh al-Mahdi. They said we were “occupiers”. They used religious “justification” to target civilians and carry out heinous acts. They had a lot of influence and power in Baghdad. When they actively tried to end my life, regardless of their “justifications”, I made my opinion very clear. I hope and pray for the destruction of Jaysh al-Mahdi, their supporters, and anyone who willingly sides with them. I do this not just for the freedom and safety of those who are oppressed by their group, but because it has become personal for me on the deepest level. That was 2006, and I still feel the same today.

Fast forward to 19 Aug 2014. Sirens blare in Jerusalem at approximately 22:45 as over 50 rockets are fired at Israel. One is intercepted by the Iron Dome over Jerusalem.

When I heard the sirens, and the following “boom”, I knew someone was actively trying to end my life. They may have not said “Hey, we’re aiming for Michael Ritchie, the American visiting Jerusalem”, but they didn’t need to. Once you pull that trigger, set that IED/VBIED, or launch that explosive ordinance towards me, I no longer care. I don’t care about your cause. I don’t care about how much suffering you have gone through in your lifetime. I don’t care about what change you are trying to bring about in the world. I just don’t. All I care about is doing every legal thing possible to bring about the destruction of your organization. Notice I said “legal”, which means regardless of how much I want your organization gone, I will always keep my morals.

In this case, Hamas has publicly claimed responsibility. So, for me, they are in the same category as Jaysh al-Mahdi. *Notice, I didn’t say “all people of the same religion as this group” or “all people in the same area as this group”; If I said that, I would be no better than them. I do not hate the members of Hamas as individual people, as I am called to love all people by my faith, but I sure as hell don’t like them.

So, where do I stand in the current conflict? I STAND AGAINST HAMAS, not for the litany of reasons gone over ad nauseam in the media, but for the most personal of reasons.

*** I want to digress for a minute and say this attack doesn’t change my timeline for leaving Israel. The most admirable thing I have noticed from my visit here is that these people refuse to be terrorized. As I am writing this, 12 hours after the attack: the airport is re-opened, the streets are busy, and people are going on with their daily lives. Unless my country (United States) or Israel says I have to leave, I choose to stay. I refuse to be terrorized.

You are awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below.