Thousands gathered in Khartoum today in an interfaith effort to see unity between the North and South of Sudan.  Mark Siljander presented a lecture “Spiritual Values that Lead to National Unity” at the event where Muslims and Christians gathered to show their support towards peace.  The public rally concluded with prayers with President Al Bashir for the peace of Sudan. The event then continued on with top scholars presenting papers to an audience of several hundred.

Mark’s lecture opened with these words:

A Salaam alechum. In the name of God who is compassionate and merciful, I want to thank the Ministry of Guidance and Bridges International for their courage in sponsoring this event, particularly in light of the momentous events surrounding this occasion. The Obama Administration has announced a new direction in dealing with Sudan, Darfurian rebels are seriously considering a willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations in Doha and critical aspects of the CPA are poised to be implemented. While this event was not planned around these historic events it is amazingly fortuitous; elhamdulillah!

Serving in politics at three levels (local, state, and federal) and as a diplomat at the United Nations, my new paradigm led to an approach which begins with building a spiritual camaraderie, which can lead to practical resolution of conflict and political challenges. It is called the “Fifth Track of Engagement.”

The “Fifth Track” approach works through facilitating the sharing of a multicultural spiritual paradigm powerful enough to foster trust, and empower influential leaders to replace radicalism with reconciliation and peace.

Fifth Track works to bridge cultures by following a successful and proven peacemaking model based on the teachings of the Holy Books, drawing on the thoughts of Jesus of Nazareth. Why? His teachings regarding reconciliation of offended parties are some of the most powerful in human history.

We hope to share audio and video of the conference soon!

Reviewer David Pendleton of Spectrum Magazine, a publication of the Seventh Day Adventist community, highlighted five books that feed the discussion on the way towards Peace in the Middle East and the understanding of Islam (or lack of) in the West.  One of those five was A Deadly Misunderstanding:

Siljander’s summoning contribution is not so much his linguistic discussion but the clarion call to seeking ways to bridge cultural divides. He points out that the three monotheistic faiths share not only an Abrahamic lineage but a commitment to life and peace.

The conscientious diplomat in Siljander can be heard in his earnest plea: “if we’re going to find any viable common ground between our faiths, cultures, and nations, if we are going to build workable bridges across the Muslim-Christian divide, it has to be personal. … Negotiating with an enemy may be a professional act; loving one’s enemy is personal.” click here for more

Mark will be a guest speaker at the Seventh Day Adventist Muslim Summit in Riverside, CA, September 25, 2009. More information available here.

The title of Martin Sieff’s review in today’s Washington Times, “From enmity to friendship” encapsulates the core message Mark shares in ADM.  Focusing on the timeliness of this book in an era that “hinge[s] to an unprecedented degree” on the discord between Muslim and Christian, Sieff highlights the extraordinary support the book has received from both political and religious leaders, and the strong ties that Mark has in both spheres of influence.  Acknowleding Mark’s unorthodox approach to conflict resolution, Sieff goes on to state “Yet Mr. Siljander is no pie-in-the-sky impractical dreamer. As a veteran politician, he understands the nature and danger of the extreme Islamist fundamentalist challenge exceptionally clearly, and his insights on the problem are some of the clearest and most cogent that have yet been published.” Click here for more.

Martin Sieff is defense industry editor for United Press International. He has been nominated three times for the Pultizer Prize for international reporting. His latest book is “The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Middle East.”

Mark is a guest on Min (From) Washington, a current events show on Al Jazeera’s Arabic Channel which broadcasts to over 40 million households globally, including the U.S. on September 14 [update: the air date is changed to Sept 21] airing at 3:00 PM ET.  The show broadcasts in Arabic.  Click here for a link to an English translation of their webpage with more details on the show (powered by Google Translator).

By Mark Siljander; U.S. Congressman (ret)

(Recent editorial published at Veteran’s Today and printed in full below)

When considering our foreign policy in the Islamic world over the last many years, one cannot help but assume that something has gone horribly wrong. Much of the foreign policy strategy, while marketed as a genuine fight against evil, has had little tolerance for influence of the spiritual. The primary way to undermine Muslim radicals and despotic regimes was by hard-line force and spreading democracy. Americans cherish democracy and pray the republican form we have encouraged in Iraq is still vibrant when our troops are long gone.

The problem comes when democracy is perpetuated by any means necessary, including undermining civil liberties and waging war. Force hardens and rarely yields a change of heart. So how do we find the right formula encouraging sustainable democracy, undermining radicalism while finding solutions to seemingly unfathomable conflicts like Darfur in Sudan?

In his inaugural address President Obama set the stage for change when he spoke of seeking “a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” His first interview after taking office was with Dubai-based Al Arabiya News. There he reiterated his offers of respect and friendship and spoke of the distinctive spiritual perspective he has gained through his Muslim and Christian family ties.  Soon, he will continue this message by speaking with the Turkish people.

Obama is poised to use his unique background to incite hope. As he treads carefully in the fault lines between East and West he would be helped to acknowledge that “respect” in the Islamic world must include addressing the religious/spiritual heart of Muslims. Spirituality is infused in every aspect of Eastern culture and politics. It is a critical starting point in foreign policy engagement that has been absent from official US positions.

Many in the last administration found it difficult to accept this “spiritual track”, believing that sitting with our enemies, sharing a meal, praying together and discussing spiritual common ground could never lead to anything substantive and consider it “appeasement.” In spite of those who treat anything of faith as worthless and unsophisticated, my experience proves that this approach does go a long way in first building trust, which lays the foundation for a roadmap to peace, consistently invoking tangible results.  Regrettably I fear the Obama Administration is being sucked into the same mistaken path on Darfur/Sudan as the last one.

Who am I to make such suggestions? During and after my official roles as US Congressman and diplomat I visited nearly 130 countries over 28 years and met some of the best and most despotic leaders of modern times.  In early 1999, a friend and I visited Libyan leaders and prayed with them. Ten days later Gaddafi released the terrorists who blew up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. We continued a successful “spiritual track” with Gaddafi’s regime for several years encouraging a remarkable change of heart. Then in 2001 we engaged Saddam’s regime who ironically was very open to diplomatic relations. After visiting Iraq I warned the Bush Administration, and in particular, VP Cheney of the unnecessary need of going to war, suggesting rapprochement beginning with the “spiritual track.” My effort fell on deaf ears and ended in personal veiled threats. In 2007 I was asked by the Korean Government to use the “spiritual track” to get Korean missionaries taken hostage by the Taliban released. That ended much like Iraq and I was asked by a top Bush State department official to immediately disengage. I complied, but thankfully, others used this “spiritual track” for ultimate release of the hostages.

Finally, I witnessed very definitive progress towards peace in Darfur after fourteen trips to Sudan, repeatedly praying with President Bashir and engaging in the “spiritual track” with his regime over eighteen months. This ended in January 2008 when I was indicted by the US Justice Department on five charges related to working with US Muslims. The ensuing inaccurate publicity so exaggerated and horribly misrepresented the situation, that my efforts for faith-based peace in Sudan were undermined.

I know firsthand that the “spiritual track” works, at very least it is like inserting yeast in bread when included with traditional approaches to conflict resolution.  With the entire world watching and 2.5 million displaced Muslims of Darfur desperately seeking peace, President Obama has the opportunity to turn the tables, venturing to shift years of misguided direction. He can combine his policy of “respect” with what he already instinctively embraces, producing a “spiritual track”; the new face of America’s peacemaking strategies that can and will succeed.