EDITORIAL In Philippines, Bushs crusade continues
While much of the world may be busy
discussing the possibility of U.S. unilateralist ambitions in Iraq, President
George W. Bush has, as quietly as one might do such a thing, engaged the United
States in a brand new foreign military entanglement -- in the Philippines. The
U.S. military, it was announced, will now move from an advisory to a combatant
role.
This seemingly minor involvement in the domestic affairs of a
developing nation has consequences the Bush team may in passing acknowledge,
but in reality ignore.
The United States will aid in the pursuit of Muslims. Muslim
terrorists, no less, as a step toward democratic stabilization, no doubt.
Had the Bush administration wanted to send a message to the
American people about its capacity to assist in other nations attempts at
domestic political and social stability in the midst of insurrections,
terrorist incursions and fledgling civil wars, there are plenty of nations to
choose from.
Africa offers several options.
But instead, Bush has sent a signal -- again -- to the simmering
Islamic world.
However, this is not a benign involvement.
Bush has chosen to assert American military presence in a Catholic
country. In the most Catholic nation in the Asian-Pacific region, he is siding
with the Christian majority against the Muslim minority. Openly.
No lessons have been learned from his Sept. 16, 2001, gaffe when
world uproar followed his declaration, This crusade, this war on
terrorism, is going to take a long time.
The Islamic world presumed, immediately and understandably, he was
equating the United States response with what Muslims call the war
of those signed with the cross. The American president was quick to
distance himself from that interpretation, and Islamic moderates in time took
him at his word.
Now they may revisit that assessment, reasoning, if it looks like
a crusade and acts like a crusade, perhaps it is a crusade.
What the Philippines involvement certainly represents is
this militaristic U.S. administrations unwillingness to learn any lessons
from history, including its own as recent as Sept. 16, 2001.
In a heavily Muslim region of the world, the United States
acceptance of the invitation to enter the Filipino fray -- if thats truly
how it came about -- will not, in the long run, do the Christians of Asia any
great favors.
National Catholic Reporter, March 7,
2003
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