Press Release: Religious Left Charges U.S. Drone Policy on Autopilot

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Brethren, Catholic, Drones, Institute on Religion and Democracy, Just War Theory, Mark Tooley, Nuns on a Bus, Nuns on the Bus, pacifism, Quakers, Religious Left, UCC, United Methodist, war, war & peace

(photo credit: washingtonpost.com)

May 31, 2013
Contact: Jeff Walton 202-682-4131

“The pacifist Religious Left is again denouncing drone strikes against terrorists without offering plausible alternatives.”
-IRD President Mark Tooley

Washington, DC—A letter to President Obama from United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Quaker, Brethren, and Christian Reformed officials, plus the head of “Nuns on the Bus,” is expressing “great concern” about drone “targeted killings” of “alleged” al Qaeda militants.

The groups want to repeal the post 9-11 “Authorization for the Use of Military Force” and instead pursue “police actions” that “extend protections consistent with principles of human and civil rights pertaining to the pursuit and apprehension of a criminal suspect, including fair trial in a court of law.”

A full version of the letter can be viewed by clicking here.

IRD President Mark Tooley commented:

“The pacifist Religious Left is again denouncing drone strikes against terrorists without offering plausible alternatives.

“These activists bemoan ‘remote, technical warfare,’ without admitting they, as literal or functional pacifists, oppose all warfare and force. Their appeal illustrates how some church officials, ignoring their own religious teachings about fallen humanity, want desperately to pretend that the world is intrinsically benign and just.

“These religious activists are interested in the ‘root causes of conflicts,’ which they surmise can be addressed by ‘restorative justice practices, and effective economic development programs.’ Their suggestion has merit if Islamist terrorists have legitimate grievances that can be redressed by rational recompense. But what if their mollification entails accommodation to Islamist rule and practice, including the suppression of civil liberties, which the activists profess to champion, and the suppression of non Islamists?

“The liberal Protestants’ letter seems to expect a level of perfection and power that not even the U.S. at its very best can possibly attain.

“Technology and modern scruples have made war and law enforcement more precise than ever before. But churches attuned to the limits of human capacity must understand that states, when defending the innocent from the murderous, must act boldly, stealthily, dangerously, and without guarantee of absolute success. Winston Churchill reputedly said: ‘The maxim ‘Nothing but perfection’ may be spelled ‘Paralysis.’’ High minded theorists may demand moral precision, but no government this side of heaven can guarantee it.”

www.TheIRD.org

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Free Burma Rangers Give Witness

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Addie Darling, Burma, Institute on Religion and Democracy, IRD Blog, persecution, religious freedom, war & peace

In an age of competing causes and endless advocacy, it is all to easy to be cynical and believe that it’s nearly impossible for individuals to make a difference in the world. It is surprisingly rare -even for Christians- to meet inspiring individuals who do work that is truly good and revolutionary.

Thus it was truly a privilege to meet Rev. Dave Eubank- a former U.S. Army soldier, Eliya Samson- a Karen medic, founders of Free Burma Rangers, as well as the Eubank family at a briefing on Capitol Hill last Wednesday. They elaborated upon the history of this incredible organization, the current situation in Myanmar, and what needs to happen if the country is to move forward.

Free Burma Rangers began as a chance encounter between Eubanks and Samson, in which the two paired up to help injured refugees fleeing to Thailand.  What began as two men and four backpacks grew to an organization with 59 active humanitarian relief teams that has treated over half a million victims and served over a million people.  The organization’s Christian founders of this multi-ethnic, multi-religious  group place an emphasis on love, justice, forgiveness and peace. Preserving these virtues, protecting the innocent and serving others in a war-torn nation, however, requires courage, fortitude, and the courageous volunteer medics and relief workers must be ready to defend, and even die for, the civilians under attack and displaced by the violence.

Eubanks repeated some of the positive news that has come from Burma in the past few years: elections were held in 2010 for the first time in over 20 years, there has been a decrease in fighting as well as censorship, and over 1,000 political prisoners have been released, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Both men were encouraged by these developments, though they remained skeptical of any permanent and lasting improvements towards the persecuted peoples in Myanmar solely because of such changes. Eubanks explained that despite the improvements in the situation, over 70 thousand people are still displaced, 311 prisoners of conscience are still behind bars, the Burmese army is using the current cease-fire to increase supplies at camps and build several new strategic camps as well.

There are also a variety of religious freedom violations across the country:  in Chin state, Muslims- particularly those among the Rohingya people, face some of the worst religious persecution in the world, and Christians- particularly those outside of the capital, Rangoon- face religious restrictions as well. While such a world was hard for me to imagine, Eubanks explained that these kinds of religious prohibitions are natural; for the totalitarian state where the government is god, the free exercise of religion means allowing its citizens to answer to a higher power than the state.

He also cautioned the group, including staff of congressmen and women, to exercise prudence in US foreign policy with Myanmar, but not at the expense of forcefulness and conviction.  Eubanks urged leaders to consider minority ethnic groups and ensure that foreign policies do not ignore the struggles they face. He also mentioned that while military action would be premature and would further hurt the innocent citizens of Myanmar, U.S. government leaders should stand up to the infractions of the Burmese government more forcefully for lasting change to come.

The long list of conditions and unknown variables determining the future of the various peoples of Myanmar made Samson skeptical of positive changes in the immediate future. This bleak outlook, even in the face of recent positive reforms, awakened me to the harsh realities of the road lying ahead of the Free Burma Rangers. However, Samson continued to remind the group that there will always be hope.

It is this tenacity and bravery in spite of everything that took my breath away and gave me hope- hope that they will never have to surrender, hope that there can be justice, peace and forgiveness in Myanmar, and hope that one day, these rangers will walk through a free Burma.