In a related development, Syria is doing little to stop a steady flow of Sunni insurgents into western Iraq. The American forces in Iraq are fully engaged in countering the infiltration of these al-Qaeda allies, who make their way from the border into Ramadi and Fallujah, and eventually all the way to Baghdad. U.S. forces have killed Syrian security personnel, as well, in fighting that shows Syria's reputed cooperation with coalition forces to be a lie. Not for religious reasons, but purely to preserve himself in power, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is trying to have it both ways—giving tacit support to a free Iraq, at the same time as aiding any forces that will oppose the coalition.

The fighting along the Iraqi-Syrian border has cost at least five American lives, not to mention the huge additional cost burden to maintain surveillance and support battle lines in the wilderness area.

Wars seem to turn on the slightest of circumstances, sometimes. By all rights, the American-led coalition should defeat the al-Sadrs, the al-Qaeda allies and the self-seeking despots. But is it God's will to bless the good intentions to free Iraq? Time will tell. But at some point, America's economic and military might will fail her.

Prophecy shows that only Jesus Christ, when present on the earth as its conquering King, will subdue insurgents for all time. Interestingly, in the context of one prophecy of that event, God tells what it takes to truly bring peace: "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).