It is the continuing concern of worldview and its sponsoring organization, The Council on Religion and International Affairs, to probe the relationship among religion, ethics and foreign policy. Most of this concern seems to be directed toward analysis and evaluation of substantive policy issues, which are, of course, vitally important. But it may be equally important to investigate the process of religion-ethics- policy interaction, This essay examines one aspect of that process: how ethical consciousness can pervade the decision-making process. This problem will be approached by looking at three interrelated questions: a) what are the political responsibilities which flow to the individual in the free society? b) what is the character of those responsibilities? c) how can we best fulfill those responsibilities?

We are inclined to define the free society as one which provides a free condition for individuals and social groups.

The carefully graduated increases in manpower and in the intensity of bombing attacks and the wellpublicized U.S. diplomatic efforts for negotiations, make it appear—at least as I write this—that the United States is conducting in Vietnam a well-controlled and limited military operation.

This impression of limitation and control, implying as it does the discriminating application of military power in the service of political ends, is morally soothing. It is nevertheless an illusory impression which cannot avoid being exposed as the war progresses. For the underlying fact of the U.S. commitment in Vietnam is that its objective is no longer the politics of South Vietnam.