Last Vicar Of Baghdad Leaves Iraq...

[agchristie]

Canon Andrew White leaves for Jerusalem amid security fears. It couldn't have been an easy decision for him. His followers widely respected him. What future for them I wonder? As the Canon himself said 'the first thing we must do is pray'....

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/baghdad-church-big-leaves-isis-fears-article-1.1964829

[naomi24]

His prayers won't help anyone - but that's good news. His followers, I fear, are doomed.

[agchristie]

Yes Naomi, I didn't think he would leave. His followers need a miracle.

[kvalidir]

Shame he's not taking his flock with him- where is his faith? I personally think he'd be better served shooting at Isis rather than praying about them :(

[naomi24]

I think he had to, ag. He is high profile and there's no doubt that with the arrival of ISIS he would have been slaughtered. Dead, he's no good to anyone.

[agchristie]

There will be some who will be critical but yes, I think in the circumstances he had to leave.

[naomi24]

Divebuddy, indeed. This is where faith and reality part company.

[237SJ]

"I am British and very pro-Israel" I`m surprised he has lasted as long as he has.

[agchristie]

One thing is for sure, he had no faith in the soldier to fight and protect him.

[naomi24]

Before this decision was made the bodyguard said that when IS arrived he would leave his post and run away.

[agchristie]

Divebuddy, the Government had assigned numerous protectors for him but I'm not sure whether they all shared the same view that if IS appeared they would drop their uniforms and run.

The Canon had a female assistant, I'm trying to find out what happened to her too.

[ladybirder]

Oh goodness, just seen this AG, was wondering about the news from Baghdad and Canon White in particular. She will have gone with him I bet unless she has family there. IS must be closing in; what hope for any of those left behind now.

[tonyav]

isis are very close to Turkey now !.
http://preview.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/is-raises-flag-in-town-near-turkey-border/ar-BB7OMkp

[agchristie]

I hope she is safe divebuddy.

Ladybirder, it seems that these last few days IS have been kept at bay just outside the city, but for how much longer?

It does not bear thinking about...

[naomi24]

I don't know where she is, but this is from June, and she wasn't in Baghdad then.

//The situation is so dangerous that Canon White has told his assistant, Sarah Ahmed, not to return to Baghdad for the time being.//

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/canon.andrew.white.things.have.moved.from.terrible.to.desperate.in.iraq/38148.htm

The situation hasn't improved, so I presume she's still elsewhere.

[agchristie]

Thanks Naomi, thats reassuring. I thought she was still in the capital in August.

[ladybirder]

Let's hope so.Thanks Naomi.

[keyplus90]

One thing is sure that Iraq is a better place now than it was under Saddam. Atleast Americans and their allies will claim that.