The early Christians, yes, including the Pope, issued plenary indulgences to the common folk. Only they didn't just give them away, you had to buy them. And what, you may ask, was a plenary indulgence. Why, it was a ticket to heaven.

So, much like George W., the Pope had a direct line to God. And God evidently told the Pope that too many people were sinning and not repenting enough so that when they died their souls were going to hell. More to the point, God said (I think I have this correct), "We have too many vacancies up here, which ain't good for business." Well, the Pope, servant that he was, came up with the plan to have guys (this could be where the Cosa Nostra got it's start) stand on street corners and sell these tickets to heaven.

PS - Martin Luther didn't care for this one bit. Presto! Lutherans.

Fast forward a thousand years or so to present day and by golly Americans have jumped right into the salvation business. Born-againers (psst! let me see your rebirth certificates, please), Fundamentalists (these folks do parlor tricks of the mind), and many walk-a-day Christians (like George W.) have all taken on the mantle of saving folks from themselves for the betterment of all. Of all the corporations that is. Evidently that thing about 'FREE WILL" that God built into the human species didn't turn out exactly as he had planned. He hadn't counted on actual people taking to such an extreme as say, freedom of speech or choosing to run their country their way. No, it seems he had the American way of life in mind. Which brings us to the point of interventions.

Much like plenary indulgences (buy your way into heaven by being so sorry for your sins that your willing to pay real shekels), modern warfare theory goes this way, "We know what's right for you and how you should live ('cause God speaks to our presidents), and if you're too stubborn to do what we say, we will bomb your country into rubble so y'all can start over and do it the 'right' way this time."

Can I get an "AMEN".