At first glance, the shocking photos of distressed Iraqis held by Americans in Baghdad’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison seem like the work of overextended, misguided and possibly psychologically destabilized captors. Closer examination of one of the photos reveals references to an ancient catholic ritual in Spain called Semana Santa, or Holy Week. Classical Spanish painter Joaquin Dominguez Becquer depicted this ritual commemorating the trials and tribulations of Christ. Semana Santa is still observed in places like Sevilla during the week between Palm and Easter Sundays. Perhaps one of the American jailers is a frustrated missionary and former art student desperate for a creative outlet. These photos are not scenes of abuse, but highly stylized stagings of scenes from a passion play, meant to involve the poor, heathen muslims in their own evangelization. But before receiving the benefits of being a good christian, it is customary that the U.S. military’s own hazing rituals be “done unto” the Iraqis so that they may in the future do them unto other poor, heathen muslims. In no time the good will of the christian church should be spread throughout the muslim world, making it a safe and peaceful place where we can all drill for oil together in harmony.

The evangelical nature of the conflict in Iraq goes on beyond and behind the front line. This week the Chicago Tribune featured a soldier being baptized on its front page, doing its part in illustrating the cliché that there are no atheists in foxholes.