By Dawn's Early Light

Bush Worships in Chinese Church

President Bush made a symbolic visit to one of 5 sanctioned Protestant churches in Beijing during his recent trip to China.  This article from the Washington Post, with a superb commentary by Rick Moore of HolyCoast, points to an important event.  Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our democracy, and expanding such freedoms in China will lead, over the long term, to greater personal and democratic freedoms.

The President, while a Protestant evangelical himself, did not specify his actions and comments directly at promoting the Christian faith in China.  The San Diego Union Tribune reports:

"Prodded by U.S. evangelical Christians and a bipartisan group in Congress, he has long championed the cause of Chinese persecuted for their religious beliefs. Bush met with Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, long denounced by China, in Washington before the trip.

The president made his case directly to Hu yesterday when the two leaders met in the Great Hall of the People just off Tiananmen Square. 'It is important that social, political and religious freedoms grow in China,' he said in his formal statement read standing next to the Chinese leader. 'And we encourage China to continue making the historic transition to greater freedom.'"

From the same article here are some of President Bush's comments while in China regarding religion:

• "As he entered Gangwashi Church with first lady Laura Bush, he was greeted by pastor Du Fengying, who gave him two Chinese bibles. He then wrote in her guest book, 'May God bless the Christians of China.'"
• "'My hope is that the government of China will not fear Christians who gather to worship openly,' he said during the church service, after applauding the small choir's rendition of Beethoven's Ode to Joy. 'A healthy society is a society that welcomes all faiths and gives people a chance to express themselves through worship with the Almighty.'"
• "After the services, Bush remarked that 'the spirit of the Lord is very strong inside your church.'"
• "'I will continue to remind President Hu about . . . my personal faith and the belief that people should be allowed to worship freely,' he said in a pre-departure interview. He added, "And a vibrant, whole society is one that recognizes that certain freedoms are inherent and need to be part of a complete society.'"

It is important for the President to speak out about religious freedoms.  They often go hand in hand with how a country approaches human rights.  As the move to abolish slavery, to restore civil rights to black Americans and efforts to affect poverty in the United States have been largely driven by religious organizations from a Judeo-Christian perspective, so too will a greater level of religious freedom in China lead to a better Chinese society with dignity for all peoples.

Bush in Asia: Japan - America's Chief Ally

President Bush visited his good ally and friend Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi yesterday.  The BBC World News reports that Mr. Bush stressed:

Appreciation for Japan's role and support in Afghanistan and Iraq

Praise for Japan for helping spread "democracy and freedom" in Asia

American support for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat for the Japanese

the strength of the US-Japanese Strategic Alliance

President Bush also took the occasion to hint at his position with the Chinese as he gets ready to visit the country after visiting South Korea.  The Financial Times reports:

"Bush cited the communist country as an example of a society that has taken steps toward freedom 'but they have not yet completed the journey.'

He painted a different picture of Taiwan, which China claims. However, Bush reiterated the U.S. 'one-China' policy.

'Modern Taiwan is free and democratic and prosperous. By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society,' Bush said in prepared remarks for a speech in Kyoto."

President Bush, while affirming the "One-China" policy, also held out Taiwan as a model of what America would like to see the Chinese economy and political structure emulate.  On the issue of defending Taiwan, the President was adamant, and said he would do "whatever it takes" to defend the Chinese island.  The President did have harsher comments for Myanmar and North Korea.

"Bush had tough words for North Korea and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, and said that unlike China they had 'not taken even the first steps toward freedom.'

He criticized 'widespread' abuses by the Burmese military, saying they include 'rape, torture, execution and forced relocation.'

Bush cited satellite pictures showing prison camps in North Korea 'the size of whole cities' and said the country’s pursuit of nuclear weapons threatened to destabilise the region."

It is important to note that President Bush is pursuing a policy of exposing the massive human rights violations of these rogue nations. 

Hugh Hewitt Gets the Global Picture

Hugh Hewitt has an excellent strategic piece in the op-ed section of today's New York Times.  Regardless of where you stand on the Harriet Miers nomination that was withdrawn yesterday, the effect of the fight will have long-term repercussions in the US Senate and ultimately on the interpretation of the law of the land throughout the country.

Mr. Hewitt argues that Republican senators, who won key elections in battleground states, are in a weaker position now that Ms. Miers' nomination was torpedoed from the right.

"But the Democrats' hand has been strengthened. Voting for or against Ms. Miers would have forced Senate Democrats to articulate a coherent standard for future nominees. Now, the Democrats have free rein.

The next nominee - even one who is a superb scholar and sitting judge who recently underwent Senate confirmation like Michael McConnell of the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, or a long-serving superstar like Michael Luttig of the Fourth Circuit - will face an instant and savage assault. After all, it "worked" with Ms. Miers. A claim of "special circumstances" justifying a filibuster will also be forthcoming. And will other nominees simply pass on the opportunity to walk out in the middle of a crossfire?"

President Bush is likely to put forward a strong Republican judge to solidify the base and remove the distraction from the presidency over another potentially failed nomination.  However, the Democrats are now in the dominant position in framing the debate to come over the next nominee.

Mr. Hewitt raises one other good point about a political change in our democracy from the way it was intended in our Constitution.

"The Miers precedent cements an extraconstitutional new standard for nominees. Had the framers intended only judges for the court, they would have said so. No doubt some Miers critics will protest a willingness to support nominees who have never sat on the bench, but no president is going to send one forward after this debacle."

By limiting the scope of future nominees to only federal judges currently on the bench, likely with a short record (politically this is becoming a requirement for confirmation), we actually weaken our democracy by giving more power over the Supreme Court to the Senate.  The Gang of 14 compromise is looking more and more like a disaster for the republic rather than its touted "saving".

Bush in Georgia

Robert Mayer of Publius Pundit has written a well informed post on President Bush's trip to Georgia that is well worth reading.  It is good to see that Anti-Americanism is not as rampant as often believed in foreign capitals.

The Duty of the Strong to Protect the Weak

My dad recommended to me today President Bush's statement on the death of Terry Schiavo after 13 days without food and water as she lay in a permanent vegetative state.

"Today millions of Americans are saddened by the death of Terri Schiavo.  Laura and I extend our condolences to Terri Schiavo's families.  I appreciate the example of grace and dignity they have displayed at a difficult time.  I urge all those who honor Terri Schiavo to continue to work to build a culture of life, where all Americans are welcomed and valued and protected, especially those who live at the mercy of others.  The essence of civilization is that the strong have a duty to protect the weak.  In cases where there are serious doubts and questions, the presumption should be in the favor of life."

Noble words indeed.  May God welcome you into His care Terri, and may His Spirit be with your family and those you leave behind.    

Karen Hughes Returns

The Washington Post is reporting today that Karen Hughes will return to working for the President on a more full-time basis.  Ms. Hughes, along with Karl Rove, have been two of the key principals in the President's success.  Ms. Hughes resigned her position as counselor to the President in 2002 to move back to Texas to raise her son and be with her husband.  Her son is now off to college, and Ms. Hughes is returning part time to DC.

While I am a big fan of hers and believe that she is an excellent communicator in conveying the President's desires in a clear way to the public, what she is returning to do is of special interest.

"The White House declined to comment on the move, and the advisers who confirmed it refused to be identified because the decision is not scheduled to be announced until next week. The sources said Hughes will not be a formal member of the White House staff but will take on a specific and particularly important assignment involving international affairs, but they would not identify it."

I am very excited to see Ms. Hughes helping out with communicating ideas of the Bush Administration on the international level.  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Ms. Hughes are both powerful communicators that are highly respected by the President.  Never before have women had more influence and direct control over US foreign policy and communicating its message.  Other than a first lady, what single woman, let alone in this instance two women -- Sec. Rice and Ms. Hughes -- has had this type of influence?  This is a wonderful example of the US leading by example in demonstrating how a free society is governed by the most capable, regardless of gender, especially to many male dominated regimes and oppressed people.

From a global perspective, I believe this move can only be seen as the President's desire to move the US from War to Diplomacy in his second term.  The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars were the catalysts for change in the Middle East.  Now is the time to consolidate those military victories from a political perspective.  A strong communications team in foreign affairs can better articulate the US goals of encouraging and promoting freedom around the world.  Ms. Hughes is an excellent choice for helping with this extremely important task.