It should come as no surprise to anyone who has a clue that the National Security Council's top Middle East aide consults with right-wing Christians whose main interest is the apocalypse. After all, appealing to the right wing of Christianity (is there another wing in this country these days?) was one of the tactics used by the White House to launch the War on Terror, invade Iraq, and stir up more hatred against the United States. Some want oil money; some want the Last Days.

It also shouldn't be a surprise when we consider the number of times the Bush administration has relied on the Christian right to provide its "expertise" on matters of health and science. The results have included a renewed war against women and girls here and abroad, the encouragement of unsafe sex, and the refusal to help citizens who are suffering from debilitating diseases and conditions.

They slipped a bit on the security project, however. That one they'd intended to keep secret, but the secret got out. The Village Voice obtained copies of an email describing a briefing given to the Apostolic Congress, whose members fear that if there is a Palestinian state, David's temple won't be rebuilt and Jesus will not be able to return to Earth.

Deputy National Security Advisor James Wilkinson met with the apostolic group on March 25. A few weeks later, Bush reversed America's Israel/Palestine policy. A coincidence? Maybe. Probably not, though, since Bush has been the patsy of the Christian right from Day One of his residency. And even if it is a coincidence, please take note of how your tax money is being spent, and how your government is being run. It is being run by people who are immoral, crazy, ignorant, or all of the above.