Hopeful Prayers for War?

Norman Podhoretz, editor-at-large of Commentary magazine and author of World War IV: The Long Struggle Against Islamofascism, is one of the chief defenders neoconservative philosophy writing today. He's known as being an advisor to President Bush and now to Rudy Giuliani. He has an article out called "The Case for Bombing Iran." In an interview about the piece, he says:

Well, if we were to bomb the Iranians as I hope and pray we will, we’ll unleash a wave of anti-Americanism all over the world that will make the anti-Americanism we’ve experienced so far look like a lovefest. On the other hand — that’s a worst case scenario, and worst case scenarios don’t always materialize. It’s entirely possible that many countries, particularly in the Middle East — the Sunni countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, who are very worried about Iranian influence and power — would at least secretly applaud us. And I think it’s possible that other countries in Europe, for example, and elsewhere, would be relieved to see the Iranians entirely deprived of the capability to build nuclear weapons, or at least have that ability retarded for five or 10 years or more.

He hopes and prays that we bomb Iran? Defending the use of military force in a particular situation is one thing. Hoping and praying for war is something else. Is Podhoretz's desire to bomb Iran is a religious passion?

I hope and pray for the miracle of peace. Wars should break our heart, even if they are just.

H/T: Andrew Sullivan