Army of God (USA)

Army of God (AOG) is an extremist right-wing anti-abortion organization that sanctions the use of force to combat abortion in the United States. In 2001, at the height of the United States anthrax scare, more than 170 abortion clinics and doctors offices in 14 states received letters containing white powder and the message "You have been exposed to anthrax. We are going to kill all of you. Army of God, Virginia DARE Chapter." [cite news|title='Army Of God' Anthrax Threats|date=2001-11-09|publisher=CBS News|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/11/09/national/main317573.shtml] HBO produced a documentary on the Army Of God entitled "Soldiers In The Army Of God". [ cite web | title= Soldiers In The Army Of God | url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259587/ | accessdate=2007-05-14 ] The anthrax incidents have resulted in their being mentioned among terrorist organizations at the FBI. [http://www.fbi.gov/libref/factsfigure/counterterrorism.htm]

AOG supports the "Second Defensive Action Statement", as produced by the Defenders of the Defenders of Life, which reads: [ cite web | title= The Second Defensive Action Statement | url=http://www.armyofgod.com/defense2.html | accessdate=2007-05-14 ]
* "We the undersigned, declare the justice of taking all Godly action necessary, including the use of force, to defend innocent human life (born and unborn). We proclaim that whatever force is legitimate to defend the life of a born child is legitimate to defend the life of an unborn child."
* "We declare and affirm that if in fact Paul Hill did kill or wound abortionist John Britton, and accomplices James Barrett and Mrs. Barrett, his actions are morally justified if they were necessary for the purpose of defending innocent human life. Under these conditions, Paul Hill should be acquitted of all charges against him."

Hill was head of a precursor organization called Defensive Action, which issued signed statements to members of Congress in the early 1990s expressing similar sentiments about "killing the killers". In 2000, The Army of God has promoted an annual White Rose Banquet in Washington D.C. from 1991 through at least 2003, for supporters of the Defensive Action Statement. [ cite web | title= The Order of the White Rose | url=http://www.armyofgod.com/wrbmikebray.html | accessdate=2007-05-14 ]

Associated individuals

The Army of God practices leaderless resistance, but several individuals have publicly associated themselves with the group:
* Clayton Waagner
* Rev. Michael Bray, considered the "chaplain of the Army of God".Fact|date=July 2008
* Rev. Donald Spitz, head of Pro-Life Virginia and keeper of the AOG web site.
* Shelley Shannon, shot Dr. George Tiller

Others loosely affiliated with, or in some support of, the "AOG" include:
* Stephen Jordi, convicted of plotting clinic attacks.
* John Brockhoeft
* Father David Trosch
* Dan Holman, Missionaries to the Preborn - Iowa [ [http://missionariestothepre-borniowa.com Missionaries to the Preborn - Iowa] ]
* Barry Kilbane
* [http://alaweb.com/~savbabys/lokey1.html Bob Lokey]
*Matthew Trewhella, Missionaries to the Preborn - Wisconsin
* Chuck Spingola of Unashamed & Associates, Newark, Ohio
* Drew Heiss, [http://streetpreach.com Streetpreach.com]
* Troy Newman, current head of Operation Rescue
* [http://www.mttu.com Stephen Wetzel] (Missionaries to the Unborn)
* Bill Whatcott, Canadian anti-abortion crusader

ee also

* Nuremberg Files
* Domestic terrorism in the United States

References

External links

* [http://www.armyofgod.com Army of God] official website ("Warning: Graphic images")
* [http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/violence/army_god.html History of the Army of God]