The elections are over. A new president and Congress have been elected. President-elect Barack Obama promises change in our domestic policy and a new direction in the way we relate to our foreign neighbors, both near and far.
The challenges are vast. The U.S. is actively engaged in two wars (Iraq and Afghanistan); the financial crisis continues to deepen; millions are caught in a cycle of poverty and insecurity; and the global food crisis persists. If the United States is going to engage with the world in a meaningful, just and peaceful way, our approach must change.
One of the most powerful tools in the United States’ possession is the military. The Department of Defense receives more money than any other federally funded program. U.S. policy has relied heavily on the use of force and violence in dealing with many of the world’s problems and in many cases this has caused further problems.
The history of the United States is a mixture of war and peacemaking. Throughout this history many have warned about the dangers of relying on military strength for our security. President Lincoln compared military glory to a “serpent’s eye that charms to destroy.” President Eisenhower warned of the military industrial complex.
And General Smedley Butler who fought in wars in Latin America and World War I famously said, “War is a racket . . . It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives . . . It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes.”
In this issue of the Washington Memo writers explore ways in which the U.S. can actively work for peace around the world and at home. Mary Stata analyzes U.S. budget priorities. Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach reflects on the role of good government. Carl Stauffer offers a perspective on peacemaking from Africa; Gabe Schlabach writes on U.S. gun policy and Tim Shenk writes on the U.S. Institute for Peace. Additionally the Advocates’ Corner features a sample letter to the president, stories of congregational advocacy and news of upcoming events.
We hope that you will find this edition of the Memo useful and we look forward to hearing your thoughts on how the U.S. can better promote peace and security.
