“Count your many blessings” for America’s Political Structure

October 8, 2008 – 3:40 pm

In light of the tense political atmosphere in the US in present weeks due to the slumping economy and fierce presidential campaigning, it would be helpful for American Christians to consider the political situations around the globe and “count our many blessings” that God has allowed us to live under one of the most stable governments in the world. We ought to see the responsibility we have to be wise stewards of the resources of our country, instead of being full of pride and self-centeredness at our prosperity. A look at the bleak political situations around the world ought to hamper our temptation to grumble about our country’s economic situation and other woes. Ultimately, we ought to be heart-broken over the spiritual needs of America and every other country and consider how the shaky political-economic situations will affect the spread of the gospel in these countries.

BBC, CNN, and FOXNEWS political stories within the last 4 days:

Afghanistan (CNN) - “Political and economic solutions are needed alongside military might to help end the fighting in Afghanistan, the country’s minister of defense said. Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak said the idea that Afghanistan has to find political solutions to end the fighting has long been endorsed by President Hamid Karzai.”

Croatia (BBC) - “Croatia’s prime minister says he is sacking his interior and justice ministers following the “mafia killing” of a prominent lawyer’s daughter.”

Georgia (FOXNEWS) - “Russian forces pulled back Wednesday from positions outside South Ossetia, bulldozing a camp at a key checkpoint and withdrawing into the separatist region as European Union monitors and relieved Georgian residents looked on… ‘Now I feel safe; I hope that life will improve,’ said Meri Khokhashvili, standing outside her destroyed home in the village of Kitsnisi. She said she and her husband have lived in the cellar since uniformed soldiers burned down their house in mid-August after the war.”

Guatemala (BBC) - “Mexico has extradited the former Guatemalan president, Alfonso Portillo, to face corruption charges. Mr Portillo is wanted on the disappearance of $15m earmarked for the Guatemalan defence [sic] department.”

Kosovo (FOXNEWS) - “Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday said the U.S. is committed to keeping troops in Kosovo through late next year despite strong Russian opposition to creation of the world’s newest country this year… Russia takes the part of its traditional ally Serbia in opposing creation of Kosovo from what was formerly Serb-claimed territory. Like several other countries with separatist troubles of their own, Russia also worries that the Kosovo example will encourage resistance movements in breakaway regions.”

Malaysia (BBC) - Current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that he will step down from office in March, leaving behind a divided political situation that has been plagued with allegations of fraudulent election procedures.

Maldives I and II (BBC) - This archipelago nation is holding its first democratic presidential election today. The current President has been in office for 30 years and desires another 5 year term. [We can be thankful that our founding fathers wisely set the maximum term for US presidents at 8 years.]

Mauritania (BBC) - “Police in Mauritania’s capital have used tear gas to disperse scores of protesters calling for the release of the president ousted in August’s coup.”

Pakistan (CNN) - “Rockets landed near a family home of a top politician in Pakistan’s northwest, while elsewhere in the volatile region Taliban anger over a suspected U.S. missile strike indicated a top militant may have been killed, officials said.”

Somalia (FOXNEWS) - “The U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday calling on all countries with a stake in maritime safety off Somalia to send naval ships and military aircraft to confront growing piracy there. The French-drafted resolution said the surge in piracy and armed robbery off Somalia’s coast poses a serious threat ‘to the prompt, safe and effective delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia,’ where as many as 3.5 million people will reportedly be dependent on food aid by year’s end.”

Sri Lanka (CNN) - “An attack by a suicide bomber in north-central Sri Lanka killed at least 27 people Monday, including a prominent politician and his wife, police said. Another 60 people were wounded. Killed in the attack was Janaka Perera, former chief of staff of the Sri Lankan army and opposition leader in the North Central Provincial Council, and his wife. He was in Anuradhapura to open a branch of the United National Party, police said.”

Sudan (FOXNEWS) - “The beleaguered peacekeeping force in Sudan’s violence-wracked Darfur region cannot be significantly strengthened this year because of increased dangers, the U.N. chief said Tuesday. ‘The situation in Darfur is deteriorating. We are seeing increasing attacks on U.N. and international staff.’”

Thailand (BBC) - “Troops are on the streets of Bangkok after its worst anti-government protests for 16 years left at least two dead and hundreds injured.”

Turkey (CNN) - “The Turkish military bombed PKK rebel targets Saturday in northern Iraq in response to clashes that left at least 15 Turkish troops dead, the PKK and the military said Sunday. The PKK, or Kurdistan Workers’ Party, said it sustained no casualties in the operation. The Turkish military said the air operation was conducted on the PKK’s “hiding positions” in the Avasin-Basyan area of northern Iraq near the border with Turkey.”

Uganda (CNN) - “The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court called Monday for renewed efforts to arrest a notorious Ugandan rebel leader following reports of a new wave of attacks. Luis Moreno-Ocampo says Lords Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony must be arrested following attacks and abductions by his forces in villages in Congo last month.”