Berkley Center

As President Obama ponders U.S. goals, strategy and tactics in Afghanistan, the U.S. Catholic bishops have offered him the perspective of Catholic teaching and experience in an October 7 letter to his national security adviser, General James L. Jones.

While acknowledging that they are not military experts, the letter from Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, chair of the bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, presents analysis and recommendations that the administration would do well to ponder.

Bishop Hubbard recognizes that the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan has reached a critical juncture. "Should these states fail, particularly with Pakistan possessing nuclear weapons, there are grave implications for regional and international security," he writes. At the same time, he acknowledges corruption and electoral fraud have led many, including Afghans, to question the legitimacy of the current government.

Hubbard recognizes the need to respond to terrorism, but argues that the resolve to do what is necessary must be combined with "the restraint to ensure that we act justly, and the vision to focus on broader issues of poverty and injustice that are unscrupulously exploited by terrorists in gaining recruits."

Referring back to a November 14, 2001, statement by the bishops, "Living with Faith and Hope after September 11," Hubbard also reminds the general that "probability of success," an essential criteria of the just war theory, is "particularly difficult to measure in dealing with an amorphous, global terrorist network. Therefore, special attention must be given to developing criteria for when it is appropriate to end military action in Afghanistan."

In "Living with Faith and Hope after September 11," the bishops listed some of the principles that should guide U.S. actions in Afghanistan:

• Restrain use of military force and ensure that civilians are not targeted: When military force is used, it should be directed against terrorist or insurgent combatants, not at the Afghan people, and its use should be monitored. Military force must be discriminate and proportional, especially if our nation is to be perceived as acting justly and is to win popular support for the struggle against terrorism.
• Address the root causes of terrorism rather than relying solely on military means to solve conflict: Military force alone cannot deal with the terrorist threat. Non-military measures must be pursued to defend the common good, protect the innocent and advance peace. These non-military actions include addressing poverty and injustice, exercising diplomacy, and engaging in dialogue with Muslims.
• Encourage international collaboration to provide humanitarian assistance and rebuild Afghanistan: The United States, working with the UN and other interested parties, must deal with the long-standing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, especially Afghan refugees and displaced persons, and help Afghans rebuild their political, economic and cultural life.

In light of the current situation, the bishops recommend the following actions:

The bishops note that Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been working with local communities in Afghanistan on projects in agriculture, water, income generation, education and health since 1998. CRS has been successful in developing local partnerships, with local people determining their priorities and needs. As a result, their programs have greater support and even protection from local communities.

The bishops acknowledge that there are no easy answers to fighting terrorism and rebuilding Afghanistan, but they believe their teaching and the experience of CRS can enlighten the discussion.

What do you think? Do the bishops' suggestions make sense?