USA (MNN) — The United States' War on Terror is now in
its sixth year.
The military effort remains controversial on the global
front, and the alliances formed are showing the strain. It's a key issue among the American
presidential hopefuls, and elsewhere the subject engenders impassioned debate.
U.S. allies are now bickering even more publicly. According to Associated Press reports, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf accuses Afghanistan
President Hamid Karzai of being oblivious to events in his own country.
The charge stepped
up a war of words between the two countries, with each accusing the other of
not doing their part to address terrorists hiding in their countries. For his part, President George Bush believes
Pakistan is committed to the war, but he added that more work needed to be done to
defeat Al-Qaeda.
Spring Lake, MI-based International Aid's Chief Operating Officer Bob Goodwin says
the war on terror can be addressed on a non-military front. "Part of the reason I left the Pentagon
is because I felt that, really, to help fight against extremist groups, we're going to have to connect the compassion of the United States with the
people who need it most."
But humanitarian efforts have to be more than a
hand-out. Lasting impact comes with
change. Goodwin explains, "Part of the
reason that these extremist groups have supporters is because you have people
with no jobs, no education, and poor health care. We can play a major role in creating better conditions for them."
I-A President Myles Fish is adamant that working in a dangerous
area won't change their mission. "I think that in a conflict zone, the need to
be sharing the Gospel escalates. It's not an option just to leave, because the
hope of Jesus Christ is needed even more n a conflict zone than in times of
peace. It is something people have to be aware of. We're having to factor this
into the ministry now; we never have before."
Goodwin agrees. He
notes that through their partnerships with other like-minded Non-Government
Organizations and faith-based groups, "We have had access to Muslim
communities that we never would have had access to if not for health care
intervention. We set up hospitals and
clinics, and the goodwill that you feel from the community opens up doors
to build those relationships so that, at some point, you can share the
Gospel."
Please pray wisdom and safety for the staff working in these war zones. Click here if you can help.
