Foreign Aid a Good Investment in U.S. Security – Jim Harrison & James Smith
“Foreign Aid a Good Investment in U.S. Security”
by Jim Harrison and James Smith
The State, August 25, 2011
There’s more than enough that divides us in Washington, but there is one crucial public policy principle that the past seven secretaries of state, more than 50 retired three- and four-star generals and both Democrats and Republicans can agree on: By supporting U.S. foreign aid, the United States can help stop the spread of terrorism, help bring stability to those countries that are in our strategic national interest and help advance U.S. national security in a cost-effective manner.
As former active-duty service members and current state legislators representing different parties, we have personally seen the impact foreign aid can have in places such as Haiti, Bosnia and Afghanistan, and we add our voices to those calling for it to remain a top priority in our national security plan.
Most people think the foreign-aid budget is 20 percent or 30 percent of the federal budget. In fact, the entire international affairs budget — which covers both diplomacy and foreign aid — is only about 1 percent of the federal budget. Only about half of that is spent on poverty-focused foreign aid. Last year, Americans spent as much on candy and even more on caring for their pets as the U.S. government spent on this critical national-security tool.
The impact of this small investment is immense and can have a lasting impact on people’s livelihoods. Terrorists prey upon the fear and instability created by weak governments and people mired in poverty and hunger. Improving these conditions not only shows the world America’s good will, but it also removes fertile recruiting grounds often used by those same terrorists and extremists.
U.S. foreign aid is clearly one instance where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It remains a key policy component in our war against terror. As former Defense Secretary Robert Gates has stated many times, foreign aid helps America achieve its national security goals more efficiently than using the military alone, both in terms of taxpayer dollars and lives. He said, “without development, we will not be successful in either Iraq or Afghanistan.” Gen. David Petraeus agreed, saying that “maintaining a close civil-military partnership is a critical part of a comprehensive counterinsurgency campaign” and a “hugely important aspect of our operations.” In fact, one could argue that properly funded foreign aid in Afghanistan and Iraq is the most cost-efficient way to create stability in the region and allow our troops to return home.
As the home of Paris Island, Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base, The Citadel and hundreds of thousands of veterans, South Carolina has a proud military tradition. South Carolinians understand the importance of answering our nation’s call to duty and honoring the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform. Those who have served our country in uniform also understand that our national security is best achieved by using a variety of methods, including diplomacy and foreign aid.
Congressional leaders are faced with tough decisions, and there is no denying that to get our country back on track, budget cuts will need to be made. As we’ve seen with the debt-ceiling debate, disagreements will be strong, and the gap between the parties is often wide. We share a common purpose, however, when it comes to our national security. That is why we call on those in Congress to maintain proper funding for foreign aid that allows the United States to promote peace and stability in countries across the globe that are vital to our strategic national interest.
Mr. Harrison, a Richland Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve after serving tours in Saudi Arabia, Haiti and Bosnia. Mr. Smith, a Richland Democrat, is a captain in the S.C. Army National Guard who served combat duty in Afghanistan; he previously served in the Army Reserve.
