Saturday May 18, 2013
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Armed Forces

Armed Forces

During his famous Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln said that America is a nation “conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” He proceeded to question whether or not such a nation “can long endure.” The testing ground for such a nation, as he observed, was not in the halls of academia or before the high courts. Rather, Americans prove defend their nation’s existence on the field of battle.

Since the conception of America, the United States military has stood as a line of defense between the American people and those who would see this great land conquered. During World War 2, it was the American military that crumbled the fascist war machines of Europe. Even today in Iraq and Afghanistan, our troops are fighting to rid the world of the disease that is radical militant Islam.

Edmund Burke once said “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” The United States military is our nation’s promise to both ourselves and our neighbors that evil will never triumph.

The men and women who volunteer to stand downrange of enemy fire deserve our prayers.

Through the “Adopt our Troops” program, you can both register and adopt a specific member of America’s armed forces in prayer. What greater gift could you provide these troops than intercession on behalf of our omnipotent God?

Please take the time to adopt one of these soldiers and pray for them every day. If you know a specific member of the military, please register them. More than anything we could personally give them, our troops need our support through prayer.

Featured Member of the Armed Forces for Prayer

PrayFocusArmedForcesGeneral David M. Rodriguez, Commander, United States Africa Command

 

David M. Rodriguez is a native of West Chester, Pennsylvania. He earned his commission from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He also holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, and a Masters of Military Art and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

Rodriguez has commanded at every level across the United States Army. He has had extensive combat experience as well, including in Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and in Panama, the Gulf War, the war in Afghanistan and the war in Mali in 2013.

Prior to his current post, he served as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command, and as Commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Afghanistan. He was named as Commander of the United States Africa Command to succeed General Carter F. Ham, and approved by the U.S. Senate on March 5, 2013.

 

IN THE NEWS: The Pentagon has confirmed that the United States Africa Command is leasing space on the Apstar-7 satellite, which is majority operated by China’s state-owned Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. The military contract has been active since 2012, when the $10.6 million-a-year lease was signed. The agreement was set to expire on May 14, 2013, although the agency has the option to increase it by an additional three years. The contract piqued the curiosity of lawmakers in Congress when it was disclosed during a House Armed Services Committee hearing. Chairman Mike Rogers of Alabama believes that the arrangement with the Chinese satellite operator sends a bad message. “[The contract] exposes our military to the risk that China may seek to turn off our ‘eyes and ears’ at the time of their choosing,” said Rogers. “It sends a terrible message to our industrial base at a time when it is under extreme stress.” General Rodriguez had no comment on behalf of AFRICOM.

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