The Antiwar Right: Our Time Is Near

The neocons are worried – and with good reason

Neocons like Reihan Salam are worried that Republicans will soon “begin to abandon the president en masse over Afghanistan.” As well they might be: Salam, a self-described advocate of “a Pax Americana foreign policy,” and a fellow at the New America Foundation – a corporate-funded let’s-promote-”new”-but-safely-conventional-ideas, formerly headed up by James Fallows – knows his enemies, and is preparing to meet them, albeit not head on. Before the battle is joined, however, he wants to define the enemy – in his own terms, of course.

There are plenty of antiwar conservatives to cite, including politicians: the primary example being Rep. Ron Paul, whose presidential campaign mounted an amazingly successful challenge to the GOP Establishment – and, as a result, earned the undying enmity of the neocons. There are others: John Duncan, Republican of Tennessee, Rep. Walter B. “Freedom Fries” Jones (R-North Carolina) – whose stunning turnaround on the war provoked a neocon hissy-fit and an electoral challenge, both of which he survived – but Senor Salam chose Jason Chaffetz, a freshman Republican from Utah, perhaps because he’s the newest addition to a growing group. But also, perhaps, because it’s easier to characterize his “antiwar” views in a certain, limiting way.

“Among grassroots conservatives,” Salam avers, “there is a growing sense that the U.S. military is too hamstrung by concern about civilian casualties and political correctness to wage an effective military campaign under Obama, which implies that there is little point in offering him political support.” According to Salam, Chaffetz “makes this point explicitly,” but this is not at all clear. Here is what Chaffetz actually says:

“We must redefine the Rules of Engagement: A politically correct war is a lost war. If we are going to sacrifice lives and resources in this fight, we must go in with everything we have. We must be committed to win. But then we must go home. Anything short of an all-out commitment to accomplish the mission puts too many American lives at risk.”

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Should Christians Endorse Torture?

I think not.  How can we love our enemies by torturing them?  The really sad thing for me is that many Christians have accepted torture because they felt the need to support their choice for president: George W. Bush.  This is a shame.  Just like it is shameful for a Christian to vote for Obama and begin to support abortion because they feel the need to continue to defend their choice for president.

We need to get rid of our pride.  How do I know this?  I had to get rid of my pride to take another look at my vote for George W. Bush and it wasn’t until I did that that I realized how deceived I had been.  Perhaps I will write more about why I can’t support George W. Bush and should have never done so in the first place.  It is also important to seek out the truth.  If you do not have a proper understanding of the policies of your candidate then how can you vote for them?  This is about as ludicrous as voting for the 10,000 page 789,000,000,000 dollar bailout without ever reading it; and this is exactly what I did when I voted for Bush.  I am sad to see that many people made the same mistake with Obama.

We should not change our beliefs based upon identifying with a political group.  This is the danger in supporting a  candidate at all costs (even Ron Paul).  No political group or personality should have our full allegiance, this should only be reserved for our Lord and Savior Jesus.

Everything that enters our life as Christians should be under the authority of Jesus, and the Word of God.  If it isn’t it will, eventually, overtake our allegiance to Christ.

Check out this article on why Christianity and Torture aren’t compatible.  I’d love to hear what you think.