Traditional wars don’t really happen on American soil. We may be susceptible to terrorist attacks, but we don’t fight wars on our soil. We tend to fight them elsewhere–like Iraq. Supporters of President Bush’s foreign policy tell us that we need to be fighting a war on terror–this is a world war. And Iraq is just one battle–that’s right, the costly “war” is really only a battle in the war on terror (which means if Bush were allowed to be President for life, we probably would be living in a state of war for the rest of our life).
Yesterday, our “war on terror” has taken a frightening turn as we engaged forces in Somalia. This African country is basically in anarchy. A country that deserves our prayers. For two days, American forces have expanded the war into Somalia by taking out “key” terrorist targets. I don’t deny that Somalia (and probably Sudan) are safe havens for Al Qaida (Back in 2003, I was arguing that those two countries were more of a threat than Iraq to our national security). And perhaps we really killed “the bad guys” out in Somalia. However, this raises the level of concern for me that the Bush Administration is doing “business as usual”.
The Iraq Study Group came out with a report a few weeks ago with some interesting and plausible ideas. This was not some “loony lefty” group–this group was made up of respectable conservatives like James Baker and Sandra Day O’Connor. They followed some excellent guidelines in their interviews, hearings, and report. Yet that report is pretty much good for a door-stopper now.
Our cowboy policy continues, and without the consent of the congress, the Bush Administration can do whatever it wants under the guise of the global war on terror. I don’t think our constitutional forefathers intended for presidents to be able to receive blank checks from congress and to fight general wars. But, that’s where we are.
Back in the early 1970s, Nixon expanded the Vietnam War to Cambodia and it was a public relations disaster and the beginning of the end of the war that we pretty much lost. Nixon cut his losses in 1975 and called the troops home. The jury is still out about that decision–many conservatives mourn that decision and use that as fodder for their push to fight this war.
Bush will ask for more troops and congress can try to cut funding, but he pretty much doesn’t need the congress to fight his war.
How should we respond as Christians?
In my humble opinion, some of those things include:
- Pray for our leaders. We are commanded to pray for the authorities. Sometimes I’m not sure if that prayer is more in line with loving my enemy or praying for the authorities. Regardless, I need to pray for the leadership.
- Pray for our “enemy”. Who knows who the enemy is, but we need to pray for hearts to change.
- Pray for the victims. People are dying. Thousands of (innocent) people are dying at the hands of the American military might. Thousands of people will die indirectly because of American foreign policy.
- Contact our congressional representatives and ask them to demand accountability for the president.
- Teach and disciple on things such as Micah 6.8 (Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with the Lord)
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