By: Mary Mostert, Analyst, Banner of Liberty (www.bannerofliberty.com)
February 23, 2003
Should the President of the United States be allowed unfettered freedom of speech in referring to God in talking to the public? According to a flurry of articles appearing recently, apparently the answer for some would be “NO!”
In a opinion piece published by N.Y. Newsday, Paul R. Henggeler, an associate professor of history at the University of Texas, observed “leaders who rely on religious templates when making decisions are less likely to make good decisions than those who consult experienced authority. As many presidents can attest, even experts can be wrong. But the Bible would have offered President John F. Kennedy little practical guidance in removing Soviet missiles from Cuba. Instead, he turned to Barbara Tuchman's book "The Guns of August…"
Well, now, let’s see. In August 1962 American Intelligence noticed more than 30 Russian ships had unloaded 2,000 Soviet technicians and instructors and war material, including surface-to-air missiles, missile-armed patrol boats and MIG-21 fighter planes in Cuba.
According to Nikita Khruschev’s book “Khrushchev Remembers” by the time the Americans figured out what was going on, there were enough nuclear missiles in Cuba “to destroy New York, Chicago and other huge industrial cities, not to mention a little village like Washington. I don’t think America had ever faced such a real threat of destruction as at that moment.”
At the United Nations in New York, near pandemonium broke loose as the entire world breathlessly waited to see if a nuclear war would break out. The U.S. Congress then, as now, had authorized the president to use if necessary to remove the missiles to prevent aggression by Cuba against any part of the Western Hemisphere.
What changed the confrontation, Khrushchev claims, was a visit by Attorney General Robert Kennedy, the President’s brother, to Russian ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin. Dobrynin reported that Kennedy told him, “The President is in a grave situation, and he does not know how to get out of it. We are under very severe stress. In fact, we are under pressure from our military to use force against Cuba.” Kennedy is reported to have told Dobrynin that while “The President himself is very much against starting a war over Cuba” he feared the U.S. military would “overthrow him and seize power.”
Both Khrushchev and Kennedy claim that they suggested the solution: the Russians would remove the missiles and the US would not invade Cuba. Whoever’s idea it was, it worked. However, less than a year later, John F. Kennedy was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine who had lived in Russia for 3 years, wanted to become a Russian citizen, married a Russian girl and became a member of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, which supported Russia’s side.
Somehow, this history does not give me much confidence in a president who relies on the latest best seller for guidance in time of danger rather than Scripture.
Of course, President Bush is not the only leader in the world who speaks of God in the context of the current confrontation. In his latest message Osama bin Laden stressed “the importance of martyrdom operations,” meaning suicide bombers and urged his followers to “remember that victory comes only from God. We have to exert all efforts with preparations, stimulation, and jihad. God said, 'O believers, if you fight for the sake of God, God will grant you victory and make your standing firm.'”
While we’ve see many articles scolding George W. Bush for bringing God into this situation, so far I have only seen ONE article questioning Osama bin Laden’s constant reference to God. Muqtedar Khan, Ph.D., the director of international studies at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan reminded Osama Bin Laden last week “there is more to Islam than a call to arms.” In a letter reprinted in Saudi Arabia “Arab News, Khan wrote: “… I am writing this to make it clear that there are Muslims in America and in the world who despise and condemn extremists and have nothing to do with Bin Laden and those like him for whom killing constitutes worship.
“Before Sept. 11, the US was giving aid of $45 million a year to Afghanistan and was content to wait for the Iraqi people to free themselves and the rest of the world from their dictator.
“On that day you changed the rules of the game and Muslims in many places are suffering as a direct result.
“When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions fought in the name of Islam, God made them victorious and glorified them in this world. They made Islam the currency of human civilization for over a millennium.
“You and your men, on the other hand, face nothing but defeat, global ridicule and contempt; you run and hide like rats in caves and dungeons. You live in the dark. Your faith neither enlightens you nor enables you to live in the light and you have made Islam the currency of hate and violence.” Khan ended his letter with a call to Osama bin Laden to “Remember this: Muslims from all over the world who wished to live better lives migrated to America and Muslims who only wished to take lives migrated to Afghanistan to join you. We will not follow the desires of people (like you) who went astray and led many astray from the Straight Path.” (Qur’an 5:77).
Another way of saying that might be: “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit..” (Matthew 7:16-17)
Take a look at Afghanistan today compared to what was happening there two years ago under the Taliban and it isn’t hard to figure out which tree is bringing forth good fruit and which is bring forth evil fruit.
To comment: mmostert@bannerofliberty.com
Link:
Newsday -Faith can compromise a presidency
Arab News - Memo to Bin Laden: Don’t Disgrace Islam