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Interpreting Matthew 10:34-36 and Luke 12:49-53 is deeper water than I care to tread this morning, although I will suggest that intepreting these passages as normative statements on foreign policy is a countercontextual stretch.*
Instead, I turn to the gospel of foreign policy according to James Baker, President George H.W. Bush's Secretary of State and Republican co-chair of the Iraq Study Group. Remember the Iraq Study Group? They recommended talking with Iran and Syria (see page 7 of the ISG report). Secretary Baker himself made sixteen trips to Syria in 1990-1991, when Syria was listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. Said Baker in 2006, "My view is that you don't just talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies, as well. And the diplomacy involves talking to your enemies."
The current Bush Administration is conducting discussions with Iran about Iraq and has explicitly approved diplomatic discussions between Iran and our allies Britain, France, and Germany. Bush fils has also sent diplomats to chat with Libya and North Korea [see "Bush's Appeasement Malarkey," Boston Globe, 2008.05.17].
Conversation and negotiation aren't for sissies. They're essential components of the statecraft toolkit. Fortunately, Senator Obama recognizes that real toughness is the Baker model of talking, not just talking tough.
If you'd like to read more on the sanity of Obama's foreign policy, the nuttiness of continuing the Bush Doctrine, and the weakness of all this Munich talk, try these sources:
- "Hypocrisy with Chutzpah," Rutland (VT) Herald, 2008.05.20
- Joseph Palermo, "George W. Bush and Appeasement," History News Network, 2008.05.16
- Reuters Factbox: "Should a US President Talk with Foreign Adversaries?" 2008.05.15
*For the Biblically inclined, some links for discussion:
The idea that Christ would not want us to talk to our enemies is ludicrous. Obviously whoever was quoting that verse forgot to read it in its context. Its pretty clear that Christ tells us to love our neighbor as we would ourself. We are to go the extra mile in finding ways to stop being enemies. Unfortunately as long as people use the Bible to prove what they want it to say instead of reading what it does say the faith will be misrepresented. Often people do it with good intentions but just come off looking foolish and damaging the real message of Scripture. Christ died for EVERYONE. Unfortunately for some the grace that God extends only extends to them. Christ was willing to talk and eat with hookers, drunks, wife beaters, thief's and the list goes on. He meets people where they are and the only requirement from Christ for salvation is this: believe and repent. It is our job as Christians to reach out to others including our enemies through the love of Christ. To do any less is to betray the faith.
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans have resorted to the Orwellian Ministry-of-Truth tactic of purging the language of its original signification and imposing false representations on it. McCain and cohorts know that the only chance they have against Obama is to misrepresent him--Swiftboat him. Obama is advocating those lines of communication used by Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson (but not well), Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr., and Clinton. Preconditions insure failure, Bush W. and now McCain work hard to insure failure. They'd rather have war.
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