Bishop Hubbard Offers Administration Catholic Teaching, Experience For Policy In Afghanistan
WASHINGTON—Recognizing the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan is at a “critical juncture,” Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y. shared Catholic teaching and experience in a letter to the National Security Advisor. The goal of the letter is to help inform the policy choices under consideration by the Obama Administration regarding Afghanistan.
In an October 6 letter to General James Jones of the National Security Council, Bishop Hubbard, chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), cited the teaching of the U.S. bishops following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He noted that some military leaders share the bishops’ position that the success of U.S. operations in Afghanistan cannot come from military measures alone. On behalf of the bishops, he urged the Administration to:
- Review the use of military force to insure it is proportionate and discriminate.
- Develop criteria for when to end military action in Afghanistan.
- Focus more on diplomacy, development and humanitarian assistance.
- Strengthen local governance and encourage local groups to participate in their own development.
- Encourage international support for local governments and economic development.
Bishop Hubbard also cited the need to focus more on long-term development in Afghanistan. He cited the work of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Afghanistan as an example of effective work towards long-term sustainable development and security.
The full text of Bishop Hubbard’s letter can be found online at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/2009-10-6-hubbard-ltr-to-nsc-crs-afghanistan.pdf
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Keywords: Afghanistan, Pakiston, General James Jones, International Justice and Peace, letter, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, Catholic Relief Services, CRS, USCCB, human development, U.S. Bishops