My friend Doug Bandow writes a regular online column for The American Spectator about religious persecution around the world. More than write about it, he often travels to these places -- usually global hotspots -- to get the stories first hand from those whose beliefs jeopardize their very lives. This week's column explains the terrible plight of Christians in Iraq (bolding mine):

[A]s Carl Moeller of Open Doors USA told the American Conservative, "Christians are targeted specifically for being Christians." The attacks began early -- in early 2004 Paul Marshall, then of Freedom House, pointed to increasing assaults on Christians. The violence has only gotten worse. Canon Andrew White, the vicar of St. George's Church in Baghdad, told the Times of London: "All my staff at the church have been killed." Historian Fred Aprim has composed a long list of attacks, available on The Christians of Iraq website. CFI, which is making aid to Christian Iraqis a priority, has publicly warned of "a silent reign of terror" against believers.

Although they have been identified with the U.S. -- most Iraqi Christians welcomed American troops and many Christians speak English and signed up as interpreters -- they have received little help in return. The Bush administration wants to avoid appearing to favor any group. Business analyst Glen Chancy has complained: "Evidencing too much concern for Iraqi Christians, it is feared, would reinforce the idea that the U.S. is fighting a 'war on Islam.'"

Bandow argues, persuasively, that the laudable concern for impartiality is not reason enough to eschew special protection for these Iraqi Christian allies. Worse, according to Bandow, very few of these Christian allies have been allowed to emigrate to the U.S. He prescribes four important steps that the U.S. must take to protect these war allies, and declares the fourth step as especially critical:

Most important, America must welcome Christians who flee Iraq. ... Washington can ill afford to abandon Iraqis, non-Christians as well as Christians, who supported American efforts and now find themselves at risk.

Generously accepting political refugees should be treated as separate from the larger immigration debate. The cause of Iraqi Christians is just and their numbers are small. Turning our backs on them would be contrary to America's most basic values...

Bandow is right on in this matter, and his piece is well worth a read in its entirety.

Comments

[LAbriAlumn]

Where are our troops? Are they being forbidden to protect the Christians???