Posted on 01/12/2005 11:24:38 AM PST by Mr. Silverback
Maybe it is just the mild weather, but I have noticed a change in the atmosphere of Washington. Even the press seems to have recovered from their post-election frenzy and depression. “Red” America, apparently, isn’t going to impose theocracy after all. And hand-ringing doomsday prophets telling us that the war in Iraq was a horrid mistake seem strangely silent.
There is, I believe, a grudging acknowledgement that this administration’s bold post-September 11 foreign policy might just be working.
Take Sudan: After President Bush was elected, Bill Bennett, Carl Anderson, David Saperstein, and I visited Karl Rove and later the president, pleading with him to change the Clinton administration’s policy of benign neglect and to do something about the slavery and genocide—two million Christians and animists had already been murdered in the South. The administration responded quickly, appointed a special envoy, pressured the Islamic government at Khartoum, and made it a moral issue, as it deserved to be. This week in an extraordinarily hopeful sign, the Sudanese government and the rebels in the South entered into a peace agreement. There is a good prospect for an end to the persecution, slavery, and bloodshed.
Then there’s Palestine: If a few years ago somebody told me that the Palestinians would have a democratic vote for a new leader who would announce that he was seeking peace with Israel, I would have had the person committed. For fifty years we have been deadlocked in the Middle East , trying to temporize and paper over profound differences. This administration simply refused to deal with the PLO, insisting on a democratically elected Palestinian government. And now that is precisely what we have.
In Afghanistan, nine million people voted for the first time, and a democratically elected government is in place. Just four years ago, that government was controlled by the Taliban which was sending terrorists all over the world. And even the naysayers in the press have to acknowledge that there has been a dramatic change in terrorism since Libya threw in the towel a week after the American troops invaded Iraq. These are significant steps in removing the terrorist threat and achieving real progress in the Middle East .
Finally, despite the best efforts of the insurgents, elections are going ahead in Iraq in two weeks—we hope and pray. Sure, it is a grim place, and people are dying—too many people—but polls show upwards of 90 percent of the Iraqi people want to vote, and they want freedom and democracy. Given the tools, I believe the Iraqi people will turn on their own terrorists and will take control of their own destiny.
I have been around Washington for fifty years. I have seen one peace initiative after another. I have seen moments of great promise, but never one that offers the promise that this one does. The Bush doctrine—stressing individual liberty, one of the unique contributions of the Christian worldview to human affairs—is a moralistic foreign policy that just might, despite the long odds, work.
A courageous, visionary president will deserve much credit for this, but even more, we need to thank God. He may be giving us His favor on this moment—with an opportunity to achieve, not just the absence of hostility, but a new way of living in the Middle East, with democratic freedoms and liberty for the people. And that’s worthy of our prayers, for it would be good news indeed.
If Jimmy Carter did the things Bush is doing in the world his image would be added to Mt. Rushmore.
I don't believe peace for Israel will come until the prince of peace comes. But could you imagine "IF" it happened under Bush. We'd hear everything from the greatest to the anti-Christ. But how would he go into history? I think Bush will be remembered alongside Reagan.
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Invaded is a value-neutral term. Hitler invaded France in 1940, and we invaded it in 1944. As for Khaddafi, I have to say I'm buying it. Why give up WMDs we didn't know he had? He wants to avoid the spider hole.
America persons please read what that person Abbas is. That person is like that evil person Arafat. That person do not like Izrael, no that person is like evil Arafat!!!! I do not want Izrael good country persons atack again no more!!!! I do want that Abbas go Treblinka,Auschwitz,Buhenwald,Zamosc,Majdanek itp... NO MORE NO MORE!! Arab persons do not atack IZREAL NO MORE!!!IZRAEL WILL FIGHT!!!!Thank you
God bless Israel. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Thank you Jeruzalem is Izrael Izrael is Jeruzalem!!!
I agree on everything but two points.
First, as I think we all agree, Abbas is a terrorist murderer, and peace with him is very unlikely.
Second, the media have slightly toned down their shrill attacks on Bush and the war, but that is for purely tactical reasons. You can't keep the volume up all the time or people will go deaf. They are still being as negative as they can reporting on Iraq. They are still trying to villify Rumsfeld. They are still eager to suggest that Bush stole Ohio. They are still whining about prisoner abuse. As soon as they see a chance, you can be sure they will leap for Bush's throat yet once more with another lying propaganda campaign of major proportions. They would be absolutely delighted to see Bush lose the war on terror.
I like Colson a lot, but I take issue with the tone of the above.
In reality, we hear about 2 or 3 scattered incidents per day coming out of Iraq.
Someone check to see if there were 2 or 3 scattered incidents in New York and New Jersey yesterday. Those 2 have roughly the same population as Iraq, but are still smaller in geographic size by quite a bit. (2 or 3 incidents in California yesterday?)
There has been some discernible shift in conditions lately...virtual admission of defeat on finding WMD in Iraq, appearances of stagnation in the Sunni triangle. The elections will likely be a PR coup for Bush. I suppose that's why the Dems may be less fervent for the moment.
If Bush goes over the Iranian or Syrian borders, I bet that's when they will go ballistic, perhaps for impeachment. It does seem that something needs to happen to get us out a rut in the Sunni triangle.
The Sunnis may wake up to realize that the train is leaving the station, and they'd better get on board quick if they don't want to get rolled by the rest of the Iraqis. Their complaint is lack of representation as the minority. Well, that's what elections and a constitution are for....they refuse to participate at their own peril.
Thank you, Dear.
Your desire to protect Israel, is also my desire.
I am praying for that land too.
God's Word says to pray for the peace of Jeruslem.
May they prosper who love you. Psalm 122:6
God Bless you and your homeland, Poland!
And God Bless America!
Abbas is just another terrorist that's parading as a leader.
Just as a-fat did. I can't hardly type his name.
It would not be surprising if it worked, as it deals with a universal human principle. Our Founding Fathers tried it over 200 years ago and it worked.
If there is a problem, it will come from the soil it tries to root into. In colonial America, such a concept had a receptive Christian culture to work with because the doctrine of Christianity is all about genuine personal freedom.
However, these are Muslims. Everything concerning personal freedoms, liberty and God-given rights goes against the grain of their longstanding religious and cultural traditions and experiences. These are desperately crippled people.
But, if such a concept can successfully take root in Afghanistan (the jury is still out), it can take root anywhere.
Don't be too hard on Colson. In one way, any American, Coalition or Iraqi soldiers (or civilians) dying is "too many," because the terrorists should have left us alone in the first bloody place. Still, you make a good point, and anyone who comes across someone opposed to the war because of casualties should ask them what they've done to stop the killing of 4,000 children a day in abortion clinics. I'd estimate 90% of the time the person is a pro-choicer.
You are correct in your assessment.
We need a national repentance, even if it doesn't include the repentance of the baby-killers and only includes those who know the grave sin that's been committed.
As Victor Davis Hanson says in this article, "The suicide bombs and explosions that go off daily in Iraq are not proof that Americans are losing the Sunni Triangle, but rather that thousands of secular and religious fascists are desperate not to lose their entire Middle East."
I believe the Sunni triangle terrorism is the 21st century equivalent of the Marxist terrorism before the El Salvadoran elections, and I believe it will fail as utterly.
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