On Filling the "God gap" in U.S. Foreign Policy

The Washington Post is reporting that the Chicago Council of Global Affairs has made recommendations that the U.S. take steps to fill the "God gap" in its foreign policy. Rather than ignoring the religious beliefs of people in foreign lands, the Council is encouraging engagement with religious people to help resolve conflict and promote peace:

To end the "episodic and uncoordinated nature of U.S. engagement of religion in the world," the task force recommended:

-- Adding religion to the training and continuing education of all foreign service officers, diplomats and other key diplomatic, military and economic officials. That includes using the skills and expertise of military veterans and civilians returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

-- Empowering government departments and agencies to engage local and regional religious communities where they are central players in the promotion of human rights and peace, as well as the delivery of health care and other forms of assistance.

-- Address and clarify the role of religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy. Cizik said some parts of the world -- the Middle East, China, Russia and India, for example -- are particularly sensitive to the U.S. government's emphasis on religious freedom and see it as a form of imperialism.

Regarding the last recommendation, it would be very helpful if politicians would stop appointing Southern Baptists like Richard Land, head cheerleader and chief religious apologist for the war in Iraq, to serve on agencies like the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.