Army of God

The Army of God (AOG) is a pro-life terrorist organization which holds that their activity is lawful and theologically justified: using force to end abortion in the United States. Ironically, "Army of God" translates into the Arabic language as Hezbollah. The two organizations, obviously, are not related other than in their use of terrorism.

Positions
AOG supports the Second Defensive Action Statement, as produced by the Defenders of the Defenders of Life, which reads:
 * 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".

The Army of God has promoted an annual White Rose Banquet in Washington D.C. from 1991 through at least 2003 (8th annual), for supporters of the Defensive Action Statement.

In 2000, HBO produced a documentary on the Army Of God entitled Soldiers In The Army Of God.

Associated individuals
The Army of God practices leaderless resistance, but several individuals have publicly associated themselves with the group:
 * Eric Rudolph who detonated bombs at abortion clinics, gay bars, and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA. He was the first to announce the then unknown "Army of God".
 * Clayton Waagner
 * Rev. Michael Bray, is considered the "chaplain of the Army of God".
 * Rev. Donald Spitz (head of Pro-Life Virginia and keeper of the AOG web site).

Others loosely affiliated with, or in some support of, the "AOG" include:
 * Neal Horsley occasional spokesman for AOG
 * Stephen Jordi, convicted of plotting clinic attacks.
 * John Brockhoeft
 * Father David Trosch
 * Dan Holman (Missionaries to the Preborn - Iowa)
 * Barry Kilbane
 * Bob Lokey
 * Gary McCullough (founder of "Prisoners of Christ")
 * Matthew Trewhella (Missionaries to the Preborn - Wisconsin)
 * Chuck Spingola of Unashamed & Associates, Newark OH
 * Drew Heiss
 * Troy Newman (current head of Operation Rescue)
 * Stephen Wetzel (Missionaries to the Unborn)