Afghan Aid Programs Are Crucial to the War Effort – Admiral James Loy, USCG (Ret.)
“Afghan Aid Programs Are Crucial to the War Effort”
by Admiral James Loy, USCG (Ret.)
The Washington Post, May 3, 2011
The April 29 front-page article “U.S. military frets over delays in 3 key Afghan aid programs” rightly drew attention to civilian power as a critical element for success in Afghanistan. In fact, it quoted a senior military officer who said “our flank is exposed” without programs to promote good governance and job creation. As one who has witnessed this reality personally, I couldn’t agree more.
The article also pointed to challenges we face in the difficult task of executing development programs, such as those of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in the middle of a war. When our soldiers’ lives are at risk, failure is not an option. We must ensure that these programs succeed.
Some of the challenges the article laid out are budgetary. The budget uncertainty and recent cuts by Congress hinder our development experts in the field. Without the proper resources and ability to plan, we cannot expect programs to be effective.
Yet some of the challenges are institutional. Like any agency, USAID must continually improve its efficiency and effectiveness. The good news is that reforms are underway to this end. The thoughtful response to this article is to continue to invest in programs our military is depending on for the success of a critical national security mission.
James M. Loy, Washington. The writer is co-chairman of the National Security Advisory Council of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and a former commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard
