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July 25, 2008 7:09:37 AM CDT

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Born-Again Actor Leads Charge into Iraq

Posted Aug 9, 07 9:22 AM CDT in US,  Politics,  Arts & Living,  Pundits 

(Newser) – A ventriloquist and a born-again movie star are among those headed for Iraq to entertain US soldiers and fold them into the arms of the Lord, writes Max Blumenthal in the Nation. All well and good, but this version of the Almighty, delivered by the likes of Stephen Baldwin, is funded by the US Defense Department.

And it comes with a fire-and-brimstone care package, including a video game in which players must kill or convert all non-Christians to win. Even conservative commentators are crying foul: “The wall separating church and state is nothing but smoke and debris.” When the smoke clears on opening night, soldiers will be holding copies of a tax-funded evangelical text—including a translation into Arabic for their new friends.

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iraq   ((c) soldiersmediacenter)
Stephen Baldwin arrives at USA Network's 2004 US Open opening party, held at the Aces Restaurant at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, Queens, New York, on Monday, August 30, 2004.   (KRT Photos)
Premiere Of TriStar Pictures "Lords Of Dogtown" - Arrivals   (Getty Images)
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LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces - Christian video game teaser   (spinachdip (YouTube))

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