August 4, 2009

U.S. reshaping Darfur policy

by Peter Wallsten and Edmund Sanders
Los Angeles Times

Reporting
from Washington and Nairobi, Kenya – After years of worldwide outrage
over suffering in Darfur, the Obama administration will soon launch a
new policy that could soften some longtime U.S. sanctions against the
Sudanese government implicated in the large-scale killings and
displacement of African tribespeople.

White House officials say that specific conditions would have to be
met before sanctions would be lifted, and that Sudan could face even
tougher sanctions if its leaders act in bad faith. But President
Obama's handpicked envoy to Sudan, J. Scott Gration, said in an
interview Monday that the Khartoum government, which expelled
humanitarian groups this year after an international court accused
Sudan's president of war crimes in Darfur, has shown a willingness to
work toward stabilizing Darfur in order to allow aid to be delivered.

"We see that there is a spirit of cooperation and an attitude of wanting to help," Gration said.

The American envoy acknowledged that lifting sanctions could help
bolster the Sudanese government, but he said the new policy would be
prudent and cautious.

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This has been one of the great human rights and justice stories of our world for a long time. As such, it is and ought to be a matter of profound concern for people of faith.

What is America's role in seeking justice and the rights of people around the world? I am not sure. We have not been isolationists in other regions?

Does it require national interest to intervene or exercise influence?

While our primary motive in other places where we have intervened may have been actual or perceived national security and economic interests, we have always outwardly justified our actions as being in the interest of freedom, liberating oppressed people, or helping folks in need.

Both ends of the political spectrum agree that there has been a long night of oppression and senseless violence in this part of Africa. All sides have desired to see positive resolution. There will always be those who say that it is none of our business.

Those who argue that we are a Christian nation will have no wiggle room on this issue. If the nation acts to carry out the mission of Jesus, we have no choice but to be an influence for right in the region.

However, I will assert that what we are is a nation that has a number of Christians within it who have a responsibility to influence foreign policy on matters of justice, equality, and compassion. That would be true if we were Christians living in a society that officially espoused any religion as long as we had a voice.

It is not so much a matter of our government's responsibility and stewardship as it is ours. Governments have rights and responsibilities within their own spheres. Believers have rights and responsibilities as citizens. What belonged to kings in New Testament times belongs to the people in our society.

It is good to see positive moves in Darfur. These have to do with opening doors of communication over coercion. It may or may not work God's people ought to pray and applaud.