I WAS seized with excitement on reading that rifles being used by New Zealand defence forces have biblical quotations on them.
Lots of smiting, then, and much vengeful wrath.
But regrettably the defence chiefs have ordered the quotes — inscribed on the weapon sights — to be removed.
“Going to war in Afghanistan with biblical citations stamped on weapons is not appropriate for New Zealand soldiers,” said defence force spokesman, the aptly-named Major Kristian Dunne.
But apparently the markings are also on sights used by US and British troops. I tried to find out if the Irish Defence Forces also have biblical quotes.
The sergeant I talked to in Dundalk was very helpful: “Oh, aye,” he said, “we have the biblical quotes alright. And the whole barrel plays the Angelus four times a day.”
The markings on the New Zealand lads’ weapons included ‘JN8:12’, a reference to John 8:12: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life’.”
Major Dunne added that, like other nations, New Zealand’s military had been caught unawares. Which is not really something you want in an army. But at any rate, the biblical references are gone.
While on the subject of rifles, leafing through the Jerusalem Post the other day I spotted a report from the Israeli Government (the Chosen People’s chosen people, as it were).
The report was on weaponry used by both the Israeli border police and the Israeli national army. What caught my eye was mention of a curious piece of hardware which is apparently attached to all Israeli guns: a bottle opener.
That’s right, a bottle opener. And why? Quite simply it stops the soldiers from ruining their rifle sights by using them to open their bottles of beer.
Apparently this piece of esoteric information — that rifle sights exactly fit beer bottle tops — is common knowledge to fighters throughout the world.
Meanwhile on CNN a reporter was interviewing a marine sniper: “What do you feel when you shoot a terrorist?” asked the reporter.
The marine shrugged and replied: “Recoil.”