Albright critical of Bush's religious absolutism

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Albright_critical_of_Bush_s_religious_absolutism.html?siteSect=143&sid=6740944&cKey=1148297026000

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush has alienated Muslims around the world by using absolutist Christian rhetoric to discuss foreign policy issues, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says.

"I worked for two presidents who were men of faith, and they did not make their religious views part of American policy," she said, referring to Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, both Democrats and Christians.

"President Bush's certitude about what he believes in, and the division between good and evil, is, I think, different," said Albright, who has just published a book on religion and world affairs. "The absolute truth is what makes Bush so worrying to some of us."

Bush, a Republican, has openly acknowledged his Christian faith informs his decisions as president. He says, for example, that he prayed to God for guidance before invading Iraq.

Go Maddy! We love ya girl!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

He certainly alienated many countries by invading Iraq, Christian rethoric or not.

But, there are a BILLION muslims in this world, and through their lens, this Christian rhetoric has the potential to create an irreparable rift, upon which no amount of diplomacy can apply repairs.

The invasion is a legitimate source of alienation, but time can heal those wounds. A rift between us and the muslim world caused by the "new crusade" rhetoric could well be permanent.
The Professor