Leading God's Army

The bizarre tale of boy twins with reputed mystical powers who command a rebellion

Luther shaves the front of his head, has a stare that could kill at 1,000 yards and is prone to mood swings that make him bark sharp reprimands at his followers. Johnny has long hair, effeminate features and a beguiling smile that doesn't fade even when he fires off rounds from his assault rifle. Together the legendary 12-year-old Htoo twins control "God's Army," a nominally Christian force of 200 youthful Karen tribesmen in the mountainous rain forest of Burma (now known as Myanmar). The army's tots-to-teens fighters revere their boy leaders as bulletproof messiahs.

Last week the troops came out of...

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