On Aug 27 the New York Times covered Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen’s recent essay to military personnel.

“‘To put it simply, we need to worry a lot less about how to communicate our actions and much more about what our actions communicate,’ Admiral Mullen wrote in the critique, an essay to be published Friday by Joint Force Quarterly, an official military journal.”

The Times article also emphasized Adm. Mullen’s views on the effectiveness of current efforts: “American messages to counter extremist information campaigns ‘lack credibility, because we haven’t invested enough in building trust and relationships, and we haven’t always delivered on promises,’ he wrote.”  Adm. Mullen’s words go a long way, acknowledging and reminding military and policymakers that the old adage, “Actions speak louder than words” is true.

Ramadan, the special month of fasting and prayer for Muslims begins this Friday August 21.  Our friends at ReadtheSpirit.com published an article introducing Ramadan to non-Muslims and will be publishing various information and stories throughout the month at their Sharing Ramadan website.  The conclusion of writer Raad Alawan’s introduction highlights an important point about the value of prayer and fasting:

“This is a powerful theme that members of other faiths can appreciate. Jesus thought fasting was good for the soul. So do Jews, who fast on Yom Kipper; and Catholics who fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. My point? We’re more unified than it may seem sometimes. And isn’t that what we all seek in life?”  Click here to read the article in full.

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.”

We received this encouraging letter from Mark’s friend, Betsy Brown, and wanted to share with you a story where this kind of new understanding and journey allowed for real spiritual fruit!

Mark,

I just returned from Turkey and N. Iraq. I have to tell you something that happened on the plane to Iraq. A young couple sat on my row on the plane. I thought they were a couple but it was brother and sister. The woman made sure she sat by me to practice her English. She asked what I do and I told her I do a lot of Humanitarian work and explained the Iraqi refugee thing and added I had been deeply involved after the tsunami in Indonesia. She said, “You are such a good person” to which I replied, “No, any good in me is God inside of me.” Later the flight was bumpy and she was nervous. I patted her and comforted her and told her God would protect us. She touched my arm and said, “Betsy, you are such a good Muslim. Do you understand what I am saying?” I said, “yes I do; thank you so much.” Because of my pilgrimage I knew that the word “Muslim” means “One who is submitted or devoted to God”. It was so sweet and the highest compliment she could give me. Years ago I would have been so defensive and would have been highly offended. Thank you, Jesus, for grace and growth!

Betsy

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.

Today Bridges Sudan is organizing a symposium for the timely book A Deadly Misunderstanding, 7:30 pm Khartoum time.

The symposium will be chaired by Peter Tipi, General Secretary of the Sudanese Churches Council and the main speaker will be Ambassador Alkhider Haron, Sudanese Foreign Affairs Ministry.  Commentators will include: Prof. Abd Alrahem Ali from Khartoum International Institute of Arabic Language and Prof. Altayeb Zain Alabideen, Khartoum University.

Attendees include many representatives from organizations concerned with issues in the book, such as studies centers, ministers, NGOs, and universities.

Thank you Bridges for hosting such an event to discuss and encourage dialogue on the issues addressed through Mr. Siljander’s A Deadly Misunderstanding!

Join ReadTheSpirit editor David Crumm for a conversation with Mark discussing his global activism and hope for reconciliation.  Crumm faces head-on the Google searches that equate Mark Siljander with “indictment” by bringing his transparent and balanced inquiry to bear:

Google Mark Siljander, the evangelical Christian writer and global activist — and you’ll feel a jolt. Right near the top of the online “hit list” are disturbing news items like this one from the Los Angeles Times: “Mark Siljander vehemently denies the allegations in the indictment …”
What indictment?!
This is a conservative, evangelical, Republican who formerly served in the U.S. Congress and now travels the world working on peaceful development projects. When he’s not working on commercial projects (like a green, bio-fuels project in Kenya at the moment), then he’s working on nonprofit projects in trying to build peaceful relations between Western (mostly Christian) and Eastern (mostly Muslim) governments.
Not only that, but HarperOne has just published his book, “A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman’s Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide” — a terrific book that Americans should be reading and discussing in small groups.
Plus, the book carries endorsements from Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, former Secretary of State James Baker — and the hottest writer in emergent-Christian circles, Brian McLaren.

So, what indictment?!

Read on for ReadtheSpirit’s take on the indictment and further discussion of Mark’s work…

Conversation With Mark Siljander on his “Deadly Misunderstanding”

DAVID: You’ve served several terms in Congress. You’ve served at the United Nations. You’ve traveled the world. And still — still you tell readers that there’s hope for peace and reconciliation. There are a lot of people who are sounding pretty hopeless right now about global conflict. You’re not only refreshing in your promotion of serious, peaceful dialogue between devout Christians and Muslims. You’re also refreshing in saying that we should be hopeful about world peace.
MARK: In the middle of the last century, who ever thought the world could defeat the massive empire of communism? Communist leaders even had nuclear weapons! Who thought that could be overcome? But it was.
I’m saying that the practical way to engender hope in the world is to support the vast majority of Muslims and work with them to undermine the small number of radicals out there. This isn’t a big Einstein theory. It’s just common sense.