Major John Thomas provides an important message of hope regarding people experiencing conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I think there is hope. And signs of hope. And I think that the majority--the vast majority of troops believe in their cause of bringing peace and stability to Iraq and Afghanistan--for the good of the world, but mostly for the good of the people there.

Here's something I'd like to add to what I've said on this week's episode of Come Receive the Light:

I have been in the room when a general had the chance to order a target to be what we call "engaged". We could all see the enemy on live video feeds. The target had been verified. But there were other people present on the ground nearby. And the target--a person--was inside a building. There was not enough information to be certain that there were no civilians also inside the building. And this general--and I saw this more than once--this general called off the strike. One time simply because there were children close enough that he thought they may be NOT harmed physically, but traumatized emotionally, so he called off the strike. He said that the enemy had made a mistake in letting us find him this time, so he'd make the mistake again, when there was no risk to civilians. That is discernment. That is something to be thankful for and to be hopeful about. That is what we need to pray for. The technology and tactics of war often mean that we spare hundreds if not thousands of lives...and have ways to help people, even as we eliminate the threat to them with military force.

I am not conflicted about serving in the military. I believe we must have a military. And military service is noble and needed for a nation. I believe these wars are instruments of more good than people realize. All of the troops of the US and her allies are dedicated to doing good...and they are very successful at it.