Global Security: Alternatives to the War on Terror (Religious liberal barf alert)

United Methodist Church ^ | 3/11/06 | Jim Winkler

[Recovering_Democrat]

Global Security: Alternatives to the War on Terror A speech at Ecumenical Advocacy Days, Arlington, VA Jim Winkler, GBCS General Secretary Keynote Address delivered by Jim Winkler, General Secretary, United Methodist General Board of Church & Society at the Global Security Track of Ecumenical Advocacy Days March 11, 2006, Arlington, VA Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengence is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' No, 'if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21). Sisters and brothers, that is the alternative to the war on terror. Scripture points the way for us. All of us want to live in security but war does not bring security. War brings death, destruction, and misery. Unfortunately, as Chris Hedges reminds us, war is a force that gives us meaning. The President declared war on terror following September 11, 2001. He cited an axis of evil-Iran, Iraq, and North Korea. His plan is to fight terrorists elsewhere so we do not have to fight them on U.S. soil. The belief is if the terrorists are not wiped out then a sort of domino theory will be the result with radical Islam, as he refers to it, spreading and threatening what he calls our way of life. Even if it turned out Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, the ostensible purpose for the war, this matter could have been resolved diplomatically. Even if Iraq had been involved in the awful events of September 11, those responsible could have been brought to justice. The world was solidly on the side of the United States in the aftermath of September 11. All of that goodwill and more has been squandered. Now, we are widely hated and despised. Despite the President's insistence he was placed in office by God for this moment, there was nothing Christian in his response to September 11. The plan for the long war on terror is outlined in the President's National Security Strategy, issued in 2002. The UM Council of Bishops appointed a task force that year to consider the U.S. National Security Strategy. They wrote, "…..terrorism may be less the real cause of the problem in our present world than a symptom of it. Although it is true that most of the top terrorists come from well-to-do families they find support among the masses of young people who long for a better future for themselves and their countries. Can we give them a better vision of such a future? The National Security Strategy has only one solution for all of these problems: free market. With almost religious zeal free trade and free markets are again and again offered as the remedies for the problem of poverty, poor education and underdevelopment….Where do the authors of this strategy get data which support the conviction that 'free trade and free markets have proven their ability to lift whole societies out of poverty' and that economic freedom alone can solve the problem of unequal distribution of the resources in a society or in our world, of poor healthcare for many and unequal access to education opportunities in a society? We see the opposite almost everywhere around the world where there is no social component in the system of free markets." So far, the war on terror which has brought disaster: Thousands are dead and wounded D.U. weapons have been widely used More terrorists have been created Treasure has been wasted Secret prisons, torture chambers have been established around the world Widespread spying and disregard of the U.S. Constitution prevail The U.S. has placed itself in global isolation The war on terror is a war of vengeance, hatred, and fear. Let's not forget the needless tragedy of the Vietnam War. The other night I watched "The Killing Fields," the story of the horrors that unfolded in Cambodia. We rightly blame the Khmer Rouge for the hundreds of thousands, millions even, of their fellow Cambodians they killed, but the terror they unleashed would likely not ever have taken place if not for the terror the U.S. unleashed on Cambodia. Not only has our nation failed to accept responsibility for the consequences of many of our actions-invasions, coups, assassinations, and slaughters-we deny our guilt or complicity. We need a truth and reconciliation commission to reveal the past half-century of mistakes. The establishment of such a commission should be done by our denominations. What are the alternatives? 1. Correct analysis. William Sloane Coffin pointed out, correctly, that the real axis of evil is not Iran, Iraq, and North Korea; rather, it is environmental degradation, pandemic poverty, and a world awash in weapons. That's it. Yet, the President denies global warming, refuses to sign the Kyoto Protocol, takes from the poor and gives to the rich, and does nothing to halt the arms trade. 2. End the war in Iraq Chaos has been unleashed in Iraq. Huge numbers of civilians have been killed by coalition forces. Coalition forces do bear responsibility for establishing conditions that have resulted in violence between Iraqis. The Washington Post newspaper reported on February 28, "Grisly attacks and other sectarian violence unleashed by last week's bombing of a Shiite Muslim shrine have killed more than 1,300 Iraqis, making the past few days the deadliest of the war outside of major U.S. offensives, according to Baghdad's main morgue. The toll was more than three times higher than the figure previously reported by the U.S. military and the news media." "Hundreds of unclaimed dead lay at the morgue at midday Monday-blood-caked men who had been shot, knifed, garroted or apparently suffocated by the plastic bags still over their heads. Many of the bodies were sprawled with their hands still bound-and many of them had wound up at the morgue after what their families said was their abduction by the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr." We have to work to cut off funding for the war and insist on a prompt withdrawal plan. Why should we accept the administration's claim that our departure will result in civil war in Iraq? When was the last time they were right about Iraq? Is it not possible the result of our departure would lead to a peace of some sort? A half trillion dollars have been utterly wasted and far, far more will go down the drain before this debacle is over. We could have ended hunger and unemployment or at least significantly reduced it for that amount; health care for millions could have been provided; student loans would not have had to be cut. What a shame. 3. New foreign policy It is time for our nation to join the international community. We need to sign and ratify and observe the many treaties and conventions negotiated to develop a system of international law and cooperation. It is shameful and selfish that the U.S. has acted as a bully and petulantly in this regard. The doctrine of preventive or preemptive war must be scrapped. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught, "There will be no peace if the way to peace is not peace itself." 4. Dramatic reduction in secret police apparatus We don't refer to the many intelligence agencies in this country as the secret police. That's what other countries have. Well, it's not true. Our secret police spy on us and keep files on us. This goes back a long way.My own father, as an obscure preacher in the Chicago suburbs in the late 1960s spoke against the Vietnam War and was confronted by the FBI with information they had accumulated on him going back to the time in high school when he spoke before a veterans’ organization and was denounced as a communist for supporting racial integration of the schools. If they are not directly torturing people themselves, they connive in it by 'rendering' people to those who do torture. It is high time we dramatically reduce the number and scope of the secret police and forbid them from assassinating people, overthrowing governments, or participating in torture. I hope all of the denominations present at Ecumenical Advocacy Days will join the new National Religious Campaign Against Torture. We need a unified effort. 5. Dramatic reduction in military spending There is no chance, none at all, that any nation or coalition of willing nations intends to invade the United States of America. We could defend our nation quite effectively with a defense budget of 20% of the present level. But we don't have a defense budget do we? We have an offense budget. Is it so difficult to envision a world in which every nation maintains an internal police force and, working together, maintains a collective standing military force used to halt aggression, tyranny, and genocide? What's so terrible about that? The U.S. does not need more than 700 military installations in more than 150 countries around the globe. Actually, what I mean is that we should not have 700 military installations in more than 150 countries around the globe. It is not healthy for us or for the world.   Chalmers Johnson, writing in his book The Sorrows of Empire, notes three features denoting the onset of militarism. They are: the emergence of a professional military class; the preponderance of military officers or representatives of the arms industry in high government positions; a devotion to policies in which military preparedness becomes the highest priority of the state. I suggest the continuance of an authentic democracy is at stake if we do not deal with the power of our military and secret police establishments. 6. A world with no weapons of mass destruction I don't want any country or group to have nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction. When was the last time you heard a president of the United States or other major elected leaders express this vision? It seems our plan is to ensure that, no matter what, we will be the only country with weapons of mass destruction. There is no significant disarmament effort underway right now by the administration. That is shameful.  I hope your denomination is part of the Interfaith Committee for Nuclear Disarmament and the National Religious Partnership on the Nuclear Weapons Danger. Recently, I participated in a ceremony to present Rep. David Hobson, Republican of Ohio, with an award for the hard work he did in stopping the development of the idiotic bunker buster nuclear weapons program. The very next day I learned he is a supporter of the Reliable Replacement Warhead. Lest I be accused of partisanship, let me add that I am tired of hearing Democrats like Hillary Clinton criticize the war in Iraq but refuse to apologize for voting for it in the first place.  7. Impeach President Bush Yes, I said it. The attack on Iraq was sold to our people on lies and the war itself was an illegal war of aggression. The NSA spy program is unconstitutional. These are actions far more serious than a failed land deal on the White River or a sexual indiscretion with a White House intern. This is a president who says quote, "I'm the commander, I do not need to explain why I say things...Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." Imagine if this war had been initiated by a President named Gore or Kerry and it is not difficult to do. Had this war been managed so ineptly by either of them, the Limbaughs and Gingriches of the world would be screaming for their impeachment. In fact, impeachment proceedings might very well be underway now. When I speak it is my desire to bring about the transformation of people and systems in order to advance the Kindom of God even when it is painful.  8. Step up efforts to end war and stop an invasion of Iran from happening I well remember living among Iranian students in the late 1970s in college dormitories in Illinois. These students carried out lonely protests against the Shah of Iran wearing paper bags over their heads for fear of detection by the Shah's secret police, SAVAK, which operated with impunity in the United States thanks to the close relationship between the United States and Iran. In fact the Shah owed his very throne to the United States. The democratically-elected prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh, had been overthrown with the support of the U.S. in 1953. Although most Americans have forgotten this fact, I assure you it is well known in Iran. There is a direct line from the events of 1953 to the revolution of 1979 to the present tensions between Iran and the United States. Today, Iran finds the countries on its eastern and western borders have been invaded by the United States, its arch-enemy. Iran faces enormous pressure and outright threats of attack from the United States. Imagine if Canada and Mexico had been invaded by more powerful nations. Not only would a state of panic rule in the U.S., but a search for some kind of super weapon would likely be underway. Several days ago, Vice President Cheney issued yet another threat, this one against Iran. He said Iran would face 'meaningful consequences' if it did not back down from what may be a program to develop nuclear weapons. He has also said that all options are on the table in terms of dealing with Iran. Two days ago, The Washington Post reported that Javad Vaeidi, head of Iran's delegation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) responded by stating, "The United States may have the power to cause harm and pain, but it is also susceptible to harm and pain….so if the United States wishes to choose that path, let the ball roll." The head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, told reporters that "we need coolheaded approaches" and asked the US and Iran to "lower the rhetoric. We need to engage in political dialogue. We need to help Iran to get themselves out of the hole they're in today." I must say I find ElBaradei's approach to be infinitely preferable to that of Cheney or Vaeidi. Then, we have the stupid controversy over the ports deal, a so-called crisis exploited by both political parties. I think the real problem here is that our national leaders, the most powerful elected officials in the history of the world, lack political maturity. The entire world is in jeopardy because of this. 9.  Promote the Millenium Development Goals which are MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women MDG 4: Reduce child mortality MDG 5: Improve maternal health MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development Each of these goals is biblically-grounded and can and should be supported by all. This is our war on terror. People must have hope. But they must also have justice. The rules of international trade must be arranged in a manner that does not punish the poor. Significant changes in the daily lives of people in the wealthy nations will be required to deal with climate change and other environmental problems, and new international resolve will be required to bring an end to warfare. 9. Get angry Those of us here and the denominations of which we are a part worked hard to stop this war from taking place. We failed, and after the war began we took abuse from those who feel dissent is unpatriotic. I wonder what they think of the 72% of troops in Iraq who feel the war is a mistake? And we had to wait a long time before those who joined us in opposition found the courage to again speak out. But the passion needed now to light a fire under Congress is missing. How many dead and wounded on all sides is needed for us to wake up and shout from the mountain tops? How about a little attitude? Yesterday, one of the state ecumenical organization people said he went to church on the Sunday after Hurricane Katrina and discovered the worship service was devoted to an old-fashioned hymn sing and nothing but a brief reference was made to the plight of millions of our fellow citizens. I see lots of concern raised in United Methodist churches for our soldiers serving in Iraq, but very little for Iraqis. Are we so numb, so disinterested, so powerless, so hopeless, we have no anger remaining? The earth is dominated by three demonic systems of vast power and control that dominate the globe. They are war-making, desert-making, and hunger-making systems. Even if President Bush wished to confront these systems, which he does not, he would find himself in the fight of his life. These systems are not sustainable, and they threaten global security. However, we must not lose hope because as followers of Christ we are a resurrection people. Jesus Christ, if not a pacifist himself, would certain resemble Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King in terms of his political strategies. While other religious figures during his time were leading revolts against the Roman occupation forces, he chose a nonviolent course of action. Had Jesus used violence, I do not believe we would even remember him today. Like Gandhi and King, Jesus understood power and like them he built a power base. That's why the Romans executed him. Of course, we must pray. We must pray unceasingly, but it is not enough for a Christian to say that all they have done is pray for peace. We have to be missionaries for peace to our congregations, our friends, our family, our communities. We must evaluate how we make our money and how we spend it. Working for peace and justice must be an essential and integral part of our daily lives and those in our congregations. We Christians recognize that "we will not attain full reconciliation between all peoples before God's final consummation because the forces of evil and destruction are still at work in the hearts of human beings and their relationships. But we are called to be peacemakers and ministers of reconciliation until the Lord comes." There may not be such a thing as total security but there are alternatives to the war on terror. The war on terror is a war of terror. We have to stop it.

[Recovering_Democrat]

I found the subject matter on another thread--focused primarily on Winkler's call for Bush's impeachment, and thought the speech itself deserved its own thread.

Your basic leftwingnut chatter--but disturbing when it comes from a "religious" leader.

Among the other crazy stuff is:
"that the real axis of evil is not Iran, Iraq, and North Korea; rather, it is environmental degradation, pandemic poverty, and a world awash in weapons.

Uh, right, Jim.

[Coop]

Oooh, ooh! I've got one, I've got one! Uh, actually two!

Alternatives to the war on terror:

-Conversion to Islam.
-Wholesale slaughter at the hands of evil cowards!

[kjo]

If these morons has been influential in 1940, we'd be speaking German today.

[Migraine]

The world was solidly on the side of the United States in the aftermath of September 11

Yep. That's why the muslim world was dancing in the streets and the rest of the world grew cold feet and cold shoulders while Iraq violated all those UN resolutions, continually.

[Conservative Coulter Fan]

The U.M. Board has abandoned Christianity. It is no different than when they petitioned Clinton to release FALN terrorists who killed six, wonded dozens, in over a hundred bombings in the U.S. through the 1970s and 80s going as far as to liekn them to the Minutemen of the Revolutionary War and the apostles Peter and Paul. One woman from the U.M. Board was on NPR warning of racism being worse than ever...citing that the KKK doesn't use sheets...she said they wear a three piece suit and talk lower taxes.

[P-40]

It is time for our nation to join the international community.

Should we emulate Sudan or Cuba? Or Mexico?

And OBL did say that all would be well if we went Muslim.

[Army MP Retired]

.... ah yes - the whole love will cure everything theme. I've been holding out on throwing away my bell-bottoms and clogs for just such a resurrection. (gag)

"Come... my brother islamabomber, let us embrace and share a doobie... but, could you please disarm your suicide murder-vest first?"

[JamesP81]

I guess they decided that part of the Bible that said that the civil authorities do not carry the sword in vain was either meant to be taken figuratively (ie ignored) or that it was translated wrong.

Idiots.

[mcvey]

William Sloane Coffin pointed out, correctly, that the real axis of evil is not Iran, Iraq, and North Korea; rather, it is environmental degradation, pandemic poverty, and a world awash in weapons. That's it. Yet, the President denies global warming, refuses to sign the Kyoto Protocol, takes from the poor and gives to the rich, and does nothing to halt the arms trade.

Yet the countries that practice capitalism are those which have the highest standard of living. The countries that allow those who earn money to keep the money they earn are the ones whose poor would be considered middle class throughout the world. The President does not deny global warming, but he refuses to take part in solutions which would destroy property rights, rape our productive capacity, and allow the world of mystics and thugs to loot our country.

And as to the arms trade, remember, it is this president who ended the massive arms market in Baghdad, led the Libyans to give up their nuclear program and ended Afghanistan's status as one of the world's biggest cache of weapons.

Hatred of the type displayed by the United Methodist Church's governing board would be sad in a motorcycle gang, but knowing their irrelevance mainstream church leaders have dissolved into pools of envy, bitterness and disdain for those who do not recognize their moral claims. McVey
Dammit!

[Larry Lucido]

Is it not possible the result of our departure would lead to a peace of some sort?

Hell, it's possible that our departure would lead to everyone in the world holding hands and singing "Come on, people now, smile on your brother" in unison. Not probable, but possible.

[richardtavor]

2 Timothy 3:
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
This form of G-dliness is the strong delusion that the Lord has given many--the UMC has decided to become a political union.

[Petronski]

We rightly blame the Khmer Rouge for the hundreds of thousands, millions even, of their fellow Cambodians they killed, but the terror they unleashed would likely not ever have taken place if not for the terror the U.S. unleashed on Cambodia.

The Khmer Rouge is our fault? Has this guy been dating Sidney Schamberg?

Lying scumbags. [spit]

[Voltage]

The death toll has reached 250 per day! We must withdraw from the highways of America!

[Zero Sum]

If these morons has been influential in 1940, we'd be speaking German today.

"Speaking German" would be a welcome alternative to what our actual fate would have been had these types of morons been influential in 1940...

[Hexenhammer]

Sickening. Yet another reason I refused to go to my Methodist church.

[mcvey]

Yes, the Khmer Rouge were driven insane by the "terror" we unleashed on their homeland as attempted to defend other people from terrorists who had invaded Cambodia.

They had no control of what they did and had lost the ability to make choices. </sarc.

This is what all liberalism becomes: the view that no one wants to be bad and unconscionable attacks on those who wish to hold people accountable.

For shame, for shame, they have reduced all people (except themselves) to mindless ciphers.

McVey

[Patrick1]

An excellent example of the philosophical question of when pacifism is immoral.

[JakeSladder]

Oh yeah, sounds great Mr. Winkler. I'm sure you have a bunch of folks who just can't wait to buy the world a frikkin' Coke.
Tell you what, stand on that rock in Mecca and give your sales pitch to the Islams. If you can sell them on your brilliant little scheme, hey, I'll send you a 2 litre bottle of coke.

What a Dumba$$.

[mbarker12474]

A different set of Methodist morons was making similar claims in the 1930's and 40's. Communism good. Stalin a role model. Etc.

Their lineage continues today in Winkler, Edgar, Love, and significant numbers of clergy involved in the BC&S, GBGM, Women's Division, MFSA, and Council of Bishops.