by  Admiral Robert Natter

Florida Times Union, February 1, 2012

Republican presidential candidates are talking about our economy and national security.

My hope is they will articulate and understand how critical it is for our nation to maintain its leadership in today’s dangerous world as part of their plans for getting Americans back to work and keeping our families safe.

America has always been a beacon of hope and freedom in the world. From the global economy, to the struggle for democracy in the Arab world, to famine ravaging the Horn of Africa, our nation faces challenges as never before.

But America has never run from challenges, and we cannot now. That is why we need to ensure all of our tools of foreign policy — diplomacy and development, as well as defense — are ready to protect our national interests.

The value of investing in American global leadership and our international affairs programs cannot be overstated. It is when America has become disengaged that the world has become less stable and less prosperous.

Recently Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., warned that for the U.S. “to withdraw or retreat from the world will create a vacuum that will be filled by [other] actors … Disengaging from the world will end up costing us more.”

Rubio’s words are worth serious consideration. Our nation’s international affairs budget is an investment in preventing conflicts before they start, counter terrorism, establishing stability in war-torn and poverty-stricken regions and, most importantly, keeping our brave men and women in uniform out of harm’s way.

I know our troops cannot go it alone when it comes to American leadership abroad. Our military must be joined by strong diplomats and development experts. And the more effective their work is on the front end, the less likely America is to have to go to war to protect our freedoms.

Countries that develop strong economies and stable governments with American assistance become not only our allies in an increasingly dangerous world but new markets for our goods and services. The alternative of stepping back from our investments would have huge economic consequences for our state and for our nation.

Right now in Florida, one in five jobs is dependent on international trade, and we export nearly $60 billion in merchandise to foreign markets every year.

The fastest growing markets for U.S. goods are in the developing world, so if we want to maintain our competitive edge in the global marketplace, we have no choice but to invest in those countries. This creates both jobs and revenue here at home.

Florida has long been known as the gateway to the Americas, and many of the countries in Latin America are more stable and friendly to U.S. business thanks to the programs funded by the international affairs budget.

This is a win-win situation for our security, for our economy and for these countries.

From the Central American Free Trade Agreement signed by President George W. Bush to the Columbia Free Trade Agreement signed last year by President Barack Obama, our state has seen many new opportunities for economic growth thanks to careful U.S. diplomacy in Latin America.

Many Americans think we spend up to a quarter of our federal budget on our diplomatic and development operations, but it’s actually just 1 percent of federal spending.

When you take into account the security and economic benefits we get for that 1 percent, that’s a pretty good investment for the American people.

So as we struggle to rejuvenate our economy and keep our nation safe, we cannot forget we must maintain all of the tools of our foreign policy — development, diplomacy and defense.

Adm. Robert J. Natter, USN (Ret.) of Ponte Vedra Beach was commander in chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. 

by Dr. Tony Beam

The Greenville News, January 29, 2012

The eyes of the nation have been on our fair state for the past couple of weeks, as the Republican candidates for president crisscrossed from I-95 to I-26 to I-85, shaking the hands of every voter they could find along the way. South Carolina turned out to be a make-or-break state for a few of the candidates, and our primary was a great opportunity for our citizens to influence the future direction of our state and our nation.

Looking at the instability we see around the world today, one thing I want the fine men still running for president to not forget is their fundamental responsibility to ensure the United States remains a leader on the global stage. The fact is American global leadership is essential to our national security, our economic prosperity, and our most central values.

Our top military leaders have made clear that by investing a small amount — just over 1 percent of our overall budget — in development and diplomacy programs, we can prevent conflicts before they start, fight terrorism and international crime, promote stability, and thereby keep our service members out of harm’s way. The best war is the one we never have to fight, and in today’s dangerous world, that means utilizing all the foreign policy and national security tools we have available in order to keep our country safe.

There is another issue on voters’ minds this election season, though. In addition to keeping our families safe, Americans are looking for leaders who can get our economy moving again. It may sound surprising to some, but American engagement abroad helps create jobs here at home.

In the Upstate, we know the value of international investment as companies like BMW and Michelin have brought in millions of dollars and thousands of jobs right here in our community. Local businesses here depend on access to the 95 percent of consumers who live outside the United States in order to grow and create new jobs; and in fact, one in five jobs in South Carolina depends on international trade. Considering the world’s fastest-growing markets are in the developing world, our economic growth depends on our investment there.

So while we know U.S. global leadership helps keep us safe and creates jobs here at home, it produces something deeper and more fundamental for all Americans. The United States is at its best when we are sharing our values of freedom, liberty and democracy with the world. Our development and diplomacy programs communicate these values and save lives in all corners of the globe.

One only has to look at the devastating famine currently ravaging the Horn of Africa to see the critical importance of American leadership. Some 13 million men, women and children are at risk of starvation — that’s about three times the entire population of our state. I take seriously the admonition to care “for the least of these” and believe our life-saving intervention in this strategically critical region is nothing less than a moral obligation.

These days, everyone is looking for places to cut back, but even in difficult economic times, America’s values endure. The world must see that our basic principles cannot be eroded by recession, and that we must allocate adequate resources to continue our successful global development and anti-poverty efforts abroad.

President Ronald Reagan described America as a shining city on a hill, a beacon of freedom and democracy for the entire world to see. This was more than just rhetoric to him — it was a deep-seated belief in America’s role as an engaged global leader.

President Reagan took action by signing international security and foreign assistance legislation into law, saying at the time, “The ultimate importance to the United States of our security and development assistance programs cannot be exaggerated.”

No matter which candidate takes the oath of office next January, it is my deep belief that he should continue this proud legacy by standing up for U.S global engagement. When America is a leader in the world, we are stronger and safer here at home — and that is a platform we can all get behind.

Dr. Tony Beam is the vice president of Student Services and Christian Worldview at North Greenville University and the host of Christian Worldview Today. He is a member of the State Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

by Tom Ridge and Donna E. Shalala

Miami Herald, January 25, 2012

Whoever places his hand on the Bible next January to be sworn in as president will take an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” and provide for the common defense of our country. Keeping that oath will require a commitment to American leadership in an ever-changing world.

That is why all of today’s candidates — both the president and his Republican challengers — must articulate how they will maintain our nation’s security, prosperity, and values we hold so dear.

The brave men and women in our armed forces are second to none in the world, but providing for our common defense and re-igniting our engine of prosperity today requires more than just military might. We need a comprehensive foreign policy approach that includes not only defense, but also effective diplomacy and development assistance programs to ensure America’s protection, stability, and economic growth.

As the Republican presidential hopefuls crisscross Florida ahead of next week’s primary, they will address their plans to keep America at the top of its game on the global stage. Miami is recognized as the “Gateway to the Americas,” and we understand the challenges and opportunities that come with that title.

Right now trade supports one in five jobs here in Florida — a figure that has nearly doubled as a percentage of total jobs in the state in the past two decades. In 2010, Florida exported nearly $60 billion in merchandise to foreign markets. The future of our economic growth is in the international sector, and the fastest growing markets for U.S. goods and services are in the developing world. That’s why the small investment we make in our international affairs budget — just one percent of the total federal budget — acts as a jobs and revenue creator here at home.

People recognize the Sunshine State as one of the top tourist destinations in the world, bringing millions to the local economy. What Floridians may not know is that almost 30,000 international students study here each year through international exchanges. That intellectual capital brings about $800 million to the Florida economy. These students contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of our universities, colleges, and communities, while experiencing and learning why America is a truly great nation.

In addition to being good for business, our global programs are critical in protecting America and especially in preventing conflicts before they require military intervention. With our troops pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan, we are going to need a strong corps of civilians on the ground to finish the job and win the peace. And as the Arab Awakening continues to unfold, we need our diplomats and experts there to ensure democracy has a chance to succeed and provide stability in that strategic region.

America has always stood on the side of liberty and served as a beacon of freedom and democracy for the rest of the world. Every day, we showcase the best of our values as we teach others how to grow food for themselves, develop good governance in their societies, and build their own economies. And we are also there in times of dire need — in the aftermath of a tsunami, hurricane or earthquake, in the ongoing battle to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases that ravage developing countries, and in working to end the famine and poverty that far too often breeds instability.

It is always difficult to maintain our investments and commitments in times of economic difficulty and rising government debt. But from our respective times in Washington overseeing homeland security and the nation’s healthcare, we know that the alternative of stepping back from our leadership in the world is far worse. We cannot afford to isolate ourselves, letting others take our competitive edge in the global economy or by allowing our enemies to catch us with our guard down.

What we need in Washington today are individuals who recognize the importance of America’s leadership in the world, and we call on all of the candidates in 2012 to understand that it takes all of the tools available to us — diplomacy, development, and defense — to ensure America remains a leader for decades to come.

Tom Ridge is former governor of Pennsylvania and served as the nation’s first secretary of Homeland Security. Donna E. Shalala is the president of University of Miami and former Secretary of Health and Human Services. Both are advisors to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

by General Anthony Zinni, USMC (Ret.)

The New Hampshire Union Leader, December 15, 2011

While the Granite State and the frontlines of America’s fight against terrorism may appear to be worlds apart, our efforts in places like Afghanistan and Iraq have very real implications for families here and across our nation. With its first-in-the-nation primary, New Hampshire plays an influential role in determining the next President of the United States, and as I have observed after over four decades in the U.S. Marine Corps, America’s global leadership is essential to our country’s security at home.

The world has changed dramatically since I became a Marine in the Cold War era when our strategic threats were clear. Today, we fight enemies that do not fly flags, wear uniforms or recognize borders. Our security is threatened by extreme poverty, instability and pandemic diseases that can spread in the blink of an eye. In order to manage that chaos, the United States must invest in all of the tools of national power, and that includes development and diplomacy alongside defense. Through our civilian programs, America stays engaged in the most dangerous corners of the world without putting our troops in harm’s way and continues to stand proud as a respected leader in the world.

I have seen firsthand how our development and diplomatic operations work to save lives and make America safer and stronger, in areas as diverse as the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. For just about one percent of our budget each year, we operate our embassies around the world, save millions of lives by preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, open new markets to American businesses, support clean water and agriculture programs and fight terrorism, international crime and drug trafficking. Programs like these are especially essential in post-conflict societies like Iraq and Afghanistan. As our troops draw down from these areas, we must finish the job with a surge of trained civilians to ensure we don’t lose the fragile gains our military men and women have fought so hard to achieve.

During the time I served as commander, the United States Central Command took on a new challenge by assuming responsibility for a number of post-Soviet Central Asian states. Early on, we saw evidence of extremism and activities by radical Islamic groups, so we made clear that regional stability was a national security priority for the United States.

To keep families on American soil safe, we deployed our civilian programs to help train Central Asian militaries to be apolitical, professional, and capable of responding to local humanitarian needs. Today we see the return on our investment with an area of the world that did not turn out to be the powder keg it could have been.

Yet despite the many successes of our international affairs programs, some in Washington want to turn away from global leadership. In my opinion, that would be shortsighted and dangerous. That is why the citizens of New Hampshire must call on all the candidates for President of the United States — President Obama and his potential GOP opponents — to embrace a smart power strategy that invests in America’s global leadership.

American engagement has always been indispensable, and never more so than today. Our international development programs rebuilt Europe after World War II and helped South Korea move from desperate poverty to a high-tech hub and the United States’ seventh largest trading partner. The next Europes and South Koreas are waiting for us around the world, and turning our backs on them now will cost us dearly down the road, in blood and treasure.

In January of 2013, the American people will be counting on their President to keep our country safe for the next four years. In my experience, the most cost-effective way to do that is to support a comprehensive foreign policy that ensures the United States remains a leader in the world.

Gen. Anthony Zinni served nearly four decades in the U.S. Marine Corps, including as Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) from 1997-2000. He will speak at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College on Friday.

by Dan Glickman

The Daily Caller, December 8, 2011

I served in the House of Representatives as a Democratic congressman for 18 years and served in President Clinton’s administration as the secretary of agriculture for six more, which is why it may surprise some of my friends and colleagues that I’m writing an article praising President George W. Bush.

President Bush is a leader I disagree with on any number of important issues, but I have enormous respect for his deep and principled commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS around the world and his abiding belief that caring for those in need is a fundamental American value. What’s more, President Bush put his beliefs into action.

Under his leadership, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) were established, with bipartisan support in Congress. In less than a decade, these programs have delivered astonishing results, saving millions of lives around the world. Nearly 4 million men, women and children have received life-saving antiretroviral treatment, and nearly half a million infants who otherwise would have faced life-long battles with AIDS were born HIV free. PEPFAR is providing care and support to nearly 13 million people worldwide, including over 4 million orphans and vulnerable children.

These numbers are almost too big to comprehend, but every single person saved, along with their family members, friends and neighbors, have now seen first-hand the power of the United States to do good in the world. In areas where poverty fuels desperation and terrorist organizations exploit the vulnerable, this is a powerful and indispensable message to deliver through a few small, inexpensive pills. Earlier this month, President Bush wrote in The Wall Street Journal that “there is no effective way to oppose the enemies of freedom without also opposing the shared enemies of humankind — disease and poverty.” I couldn’t agree more.

To me, President Bush’s true legacy is his leadership in the fight against AIDS and malaria. His presidency marked a turning point in the global fight against these diseases, so much so that President Obama remarked on this year’s World AIDS Day: “This is a global fight, and it’s one that America must continue to lead. Looking back at the history of HIV/AIDS, you’ll see that no other country has done more than this country, and that’s a testament to our leadership.”

In addition to being deeply compassionate and in America’s best interests, the Bush-era global health programs are efficient and effective. We have saved those millions of lives using just a small fraction of one percent of our federal budget. That’s truly a wise investment.

The problems we face in today’s complex world can seem overwhelming. And to be sure, in tough economic times where cutbacks are the norm, we have to pick our priorities carefully. But even if we can’t solve every problem in the world, we can conquer AIDS and malaria by continuing to put partisanship aside and working together.

The American people have called on politicians of both parties to find common-sense areas of agreement, and I think it’s time Washington delivers. If a life-long Democrat can step forward to praise a conservative Republican president for his extraordinary accomplishments in global development, hopefully my colleagues — of both political parties — will see that fighting HIV/AIDS and malaria, as well as helping developing countries modernize their economies, agricultural systems and political structures, is something we can all agree protects American interests and values.

Dan Glickman served as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1995-2001. Prior to that, he represented the 4th District of Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives for 18 years. He is the chairman of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

by Mark Green and Rob Mosbacher

The Washington Times, November 29, 2011

U.S. foreign policy is most successful when it projects conservative values of limited government, economic opportunity and respect for democracy and human dignity. Such values should guide the U.S. commitment to global development as world leaders, including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, complete the fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, which began Tuesday in Busan, South Korea.

While much of the delegates’ focus is on the progress made in implementing the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which concerns the local ownership of and accountability for overseas development assistance, this year’s forum should look beyond the old debate on traditional aid tools and donor funding commitments. The growing role of private investment and trade must be a central part of the forum’s agenda if it is to remain relevant and drive real, sustainable results toward reducing global poverty.

It is fitting that Korea plays host to this conference, as this country more than any other demonstrates how strategic aid investments can produce remarkable returns.

Following the Korean War, South Korea was poorer than two-thirds of sub-Saharan Africa. The United States made a strategic decision to invest in Korea’s infrastructure, education, health and agricultural programs. In addition, the U.S. trained thousands of Korean business leaders and government officials who helped guide the country’s industrialization through an aggressive export strategy.

Our investment paid impressive dividends. In 50 years, Korean literacy jumped from 13 percent to 99 percent, life expectancy from 54 to 79 years, and annual gross domestic product per capita from $152 to $17,078. Today, South Korea is one of our strongest military and political allies, as well as our seventh-largest trading partner, bringing in nearly $39 billion in U.S. exports annually.

The “Korean Miracle” was not an accident. The Korean government complemented U.S. assistance with a commitment to democratic governance, open markets and rule of law, creating an enabling environment for foreign direct investment and economic growth. Korea’s example should guide delegates at Busan to look beyond one-way aid flows. The lesson from Korea’s economic growth is to focus greater attention on how to better mobilize private capital to serve the needs of developing economies.

In areas of the world where the private sector is absent or weak, foreign assistance always will respond to the needs of the most desperate and vulnerable citizens. However, overseas development assistance should be viewed increasingly as a catalyst for private-sector investment and growth, not an end in itself. During President George W. Bush’s tenure in the White House, a revolution in U.S. foreign assistance was started, seen most clearly through the creation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Programs such as this recognize that aid can never be the primary driver for growth, but that aid can play a key role in creating the conditions that lead to economic growth by rewarding good governance and investing in critical infrastructure.

The international delegates at Busan must also recognize that the composition of global capital flows has changed dramatically in the past 40 years. While development assistance accounted for roughly 70 percent of all resources flowing to developing nations several decades ago, today 87 percent of the resources flowing into the developing world come from private sources. Therefore, aid programs must be designed with a much clearer intent to steer and to leverage these private capital flows, which are the primary driving force for growth in the developing world.

International trade, finance and investment policies, which for too long have been disconnected from development, should suffuse Busan’s development discourse. Today’s fastest-growing markets are in the developing world, which now accounts for half of U.S. exports and support 1 in 5 jobs in the United States. The engine of this growth is a growing consumer class in Asia, Africa and Latin America that is eager to purchase American goods and services.

Global economic competition in these emerging markets is fierce, and major U.S. corporations anticipate that the majority of their growth in the next decade will be driven by consumers outside of the United States. Therefore, a critical objective of U.S. aid efforts must be to develop improved finance and investment tools to support the greater entry of American businesses into burgeoning markets in the developing world. The calculation is quite simple: Today’s development investments secure tomorrow’s trading partners and market access, which will create expanded growth and jobs here at home.

Rob Mosbacher was chief executive officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Mark Green, a former congressman and U.S. ambassador, is senior director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. They serve as the co-chairmen for the Consensus for Development Reform.

by General Michael Hagee, USMC (Ret.) and Admiral James Loy, USCG (Ret.)

CNN, November 22, 2011

The next Commander in Chief will face a complex and difficult set of global challenges. Recently, many candidates for president have spoken of the need to listen to the advice of military leaders on national security, and we appreciate the respect shown to our men and women in uniform. As former Commandants of the U.S. Marine Corps and Coast Guard, we believe our nation needs a smart power approach to national security that embraces a strategic investment in our foreign assistance programs.

When both of us entered uniformed service more than 40 years ago, the primary threats to America’s security were nation states with advanced militaries. Today, our country faces a different array of threats and potential adversaries – from rising powers and rogue nations to terrorist and militia groups that thrive in environments of deprivation and stunted development.

That is why it is so critical for this country, in addition to maintaining a strong military, to strengthen effective diplomacy and international development programs that address complex threats in the most dangerous corners of the world. From global pandemics and infectious disease, to instability caused by food shortages, natural disasters and sectarian strife, we can prevent crises before they require costly and controversial military intervention with effective foreign assistance.

For example, the wave of political change sweeping over North Africa and the Middle East – a region in which the U.S. military has been engaged, at great costs, for decades – presents great promise, but risks as well, should instability and deprivation empower extremist and violent elements within those societies. By providing smart, effective assistance with governance and development, we can help the people of the Arab world build a better way of life, instead of allowing their countries to become breeding grounds for those who would do us harm.

And if armed intervention cannot be avoided, civilian capabilities are indispensable to the ultimate success of the military mission. Indeed, one of the most important lessons learned again in Iraq and Afghanistan is that normal military operations – defeating an enemy army or providing area security – is only the first step. In fact, when U.S. commanders at every level were asked what they needed most to be successful in their area of responsibility, the answer was often more civilian experts in agriculture, sanitation, governance, development, local culture or politics.

Our military has fought hard to set the conditions for success in Afghanistan as well as Iraq. Now, with our troops leaving Iraq and preparing to drawdown in Afghanistan, the responsibility will shift to civilian efforts led by our diplomats and development experts. Whatever your view of these wars, after so much American blood and treasure has been expended, it would be a travesty to skimp on the relatively modest expenditures in political reform and economic development required to assist these countries through to a stable and decent future – a future where they provide for their own security, do not pose a threat to us or to others, and become a contributing member of the global community.

For these and other reasons, more than 100 former three- and four-star generals and admirals have voiced their support for a strong and effective foreign assistance as an indispensable tool of national defense. A recent poll showed that more than 90 percent of active duty and retired military officers agreed the tools of diplomacy and development are critical to achieving U.S. national security objectives.

Candidates running for office often say they will listen to the advice of military commanders on consequential national security decisions. For the sake of our country and our leadership in the world, we hope this is a promise they intend to keep by taking a smart power approach to our engagement in the world.

General Michael W. Hagee, USMC (Ret.), was the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2006, and Admiral James M. Loy, USCG (Ret.), was the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1998 to 2002, and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005. They are co-chairs of the National Security Advisory Council of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

by General James Cartwright

The Post and Courier, November 18, 2011

America faces a very different set of challenges in the world than when I became a Marine. During the Cold War, it was easy to tell who our enemies were, but today we face foes that require using all of the tools in our foreign policy arsenal to keep our nation safe and secure.

Since 9/11, our nation has learned that what happens in one part of the world matters here at home. With the ease of travel and the spread of information, we no longer have the luxury of focusing only on what is happening at home. Our military alone cannot keep us safe, which is why we need our civilian development and diplomatic operations at their best. Right now we are all watching as our government faces tough choices about how to get our fiscal house back in order. One place where we cannot afford to cut corners, though, is our security. That is why in addition to ensuring our military is strong, we must provide adequate resources for our International Affairs Budget. Only one percent of federal spending, this is a cost-effective way to keep us safe and demonstrate America’s leadership in the world.

Around the globe, American development and diplomacy programs are fighting terrorism, preventing conflicts before they start, and building on the gains made by our armed forces in conflict zones. This is truly a bargain for the American people in terms of dollars, but more importantly in terms of our men and women in uniform. As former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says, “Development is a lot cheaper than sending soldiers.”

I saw this throughout my military career, and in particular while at the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Rather than looking at something from either a military or civilian perspective, we should look at it from a national security perspective. Our military is the finest fighting force in the world, but it’s not the job of our soldiers to build schools and establish rule of law–things that make for a lasting peace. This is the job of our diplomats and development experts.

The next few months are especially critical to demonstrating our leadership and engagement in the world. While our troops will be out of Iraq by the end of the year, that doesn’t mean the challenges we face there are over. If we cut the capability of the State Department and USAID to take charge and finish the job, we risk losing the fragile gains our men and women in uniform fought so hard to achieve.

The rapid transitions currently ongoing in the Middle East and North Africa are new opportunities for us to help ensure a safer world and in turn, a safer America. We can support democracy and new allies in a key region or risk greater instability and a whole new class of enemies. We want to be in the driver’s seat, and that means shaping world events.

This is not just a security matter, as our international affairs programs help build stable democracies and economies that can become markets for American products. When U.S. businesses can sell more of what they make, they can grow and create jobs here at home to meet that higher demand. Today, 95 percent of consumers live overseas, and local businesses have to reach those customers. Our global engagement is especially important to Charleston’s economy, given the port is responsible for nearly 55,000 local jobs and contributes over $3 billion to the local economy.

It’s not often we can solve two of the most pressing challenges facing our nation with one cost-effective solution, but that is exactly the case with the International Affairs Budget. This strategic investment ensures America is a leader in the world while keeping us safe and creating jobs. After four decades of service in uniform, I have seen firsthand that these programs work to protect our national security. That’s good for families here in Charleston and for our country as a whole.

Gen. James Cartwright, USMC (Ret.), served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2007-11. He will speak Sunday night at The Citadel with Sen. Lindsey Graham on the importance of U.S. engagement in the world.

by Frank Carlucci, Lee H. Hamilton and Tom Ridge

The Washington Times, November 8, 2011

Even as Americans are understandably focused internally on getting our economic and fiscal houses in order, we are constantly reminded that the rest of the world is not standing still. A debt crisis in Europe could drag down an already struggling U.S. economy. China is using its new wealth to modernize its military and expand its influence around Asia. The Arab awakening is ushering in a new political era throughout the Middle East. War and famine are ravaging the Horn of Africa.

The question before us is how America should respond to these challenges. At a time of economic distress and huge deficits that demand tough choices, it is tempting for elected officials to scale back this country’s engagement around the globe, in particular by making cuts to programs that support diplomacy and international development.

Yet too much is at stake to diminish America’s leadership and competitiveness in a world that is growing more interconnected and interdependent – as well as more turbulent – virtually every day.

Consider what is happening in the Middle East – a region in which the United States has fought two major wars in the past 20 years. Tunisians just went to the polls for the very first time to elect a government and, after more than 40 years of dictatorship, Libya has the opportunity for a democratic future.

As a result of the Arab awakening, an opportunity exists as never before to shape the future of the region by supporting genuine political and economic reforms. Yet the situation on the ground remains volatile. Democratic gains could be reversed if chaos and poverty empower the most radical elements in those societies. These developments ultimately would threaten our own security and prosperity, as this part of the world produced the Sept. 11 hijackers and continues to be home to much of the world’s energy supplies.

It is in America’s national interests to support smart investments in development assistance and governance that can help these fledgling democracies succeed, as well as support vital allies in the region such as Israel. But doing so requires adequate resources and political support for the diplomatic and development efforts that will make such progress possible.

Consider as well the heartbreaking famine unfolding in Somalia and other East African countries, putting 13 million people at risk of starvation, a total that exceeds the entire population of Pennsylvania. Tragedies like this can be avoided with effective assistance that ultimately accrues to America’s benefit. Almost 10 years ago, a similar number of people in Ethiopia faced starvation. As a result of U.S. agricultural and global health development programs that empowered local farmers and villagers to be self-sufficient, the number of people at risk of famine has dropped by about 70 percent. Ethiopia is now a valuable ally of the United States in our efforts to counter the influence of violent extremist groups in the Horn of Africa.

These investments, while a relatively tiny share of federal spending, pay significant dividends for our country. Less than 60 years ago, the U.S. government engaged in an effort to rebuild and develop an impoverished country emerging from a period of civil war. Today, South Korea is not only the seventh-largest trading partner with the United States – volume that will only increase with the enactment of a new free-trade agreement – it is also a donor to other developing countries.

We have seen in other countries, such as Chile and Colombia, that effective development assistance helps create markets and customers for Americans. With nearly 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside the United States, we will lose our competitive edge if we don’t engage in the global marketplace.

For more than a decade, the international affairs budget had growing bipartisan support. However, Congress is now considering the steepest cuts to the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development since the end of the Cold War, despite the fact that diplomacy and development programs make up about 1 percent of the federal budget.

At a time of trillion-dollar deficits, all parts of the federal budget merit scrutiny, and the international affairs account is no exception. But to slash needed investments in America’s leadership around the world will be more costly to our country. Congress and all of those seeking our country’s highest office should recognize that strategic reality and commit themselves to sustaining America’s civilian instruments of national power and influence. In doing so, they will protect our country’s security and prosperity and help build a better, safer world.

Frank Carlucci was national security adviser and secretary of defense under President Reagan. Lee H. Hamilton, a retired Democratic congressman, was vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission. Tom Ridge was homeland security secretary under President George W. Bush. They are members of the Advisory Council for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

by Dan Nolan

Tampa Tribune, November 7, 2011

After 26 years of service in the U.S. Army, there’s one thing of which I am certain: When lives are at stake, Americans put politics aside. With the presidential primaries taking place earlier than ever in Florida, and debate raging among politicians about what our priorities should be in these tough economic times, it is critical we find areas of common ground where we can come together.

One thing upon which members of both political parties can agree is the need to keep Florida safe and our economy growing. As a veteran and a business owner, I have seen firsthand one of the best ways to accomplish both goals is through American engagement and leadership in the world. Right now our country makes a small but critical investment of just about 1 percent of the entire federal budget in international affairs programming, but we receive a huge return. Not only are we saving lives around the world, but we are protecting our families at home by fighting terrorism and preventing conflicts before they start.

U.S. engagement in the world also helps us create jobs in Florida by opening fast-growing new markets to our local businesses. My Valrico-based business focuses on turning waste into energy. I am as happy doing projects in Gainesville as I would be in Ghana. But there is no market in Ghana — yet. The way to create jobs in the United States is by building our access to new markets abroad. Even in today’s charged political atmosphere, that is a win-win.

As a soldier who has spent time in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq, I have seen firsthand how our civilian development and diplomacy programs support our troops in the field. By stabilizing dangerous regions, stopping the spread of pandemic disease and reducing the type of desperate poverty that terrorists easily exploit, these programs are an essential element of a comprehensive national security strategy. In today’s interconnected world, our military might alone is not enough to keep us safe. Too often in the last couple of decades, we have turned to the military to fix problems we failed to solve with the other elements of power. I would rather invest in a USAID schools program than deal with the results of a void filled by radical extremists — and I think my fellow soldiers would agree.

While I was serving as the deputy commander for civil affairs for Task Force Hawk in Kosovo, our team included several Harvard MBAs. I asked them to hold small-business training courses in the city of Gjilani. When questioned by the commanding general about my courses — which did not appear to be security-related — I explained that, in fact, developing local business owners was directly related to our security. With early support and training, these local mom-and-pop shops could start hiring and take disaffected young men off the street. This had the effect of reducing the recruitment into the Kosovo Liberation Army in the city of Gjilani. I would always rather use this kind of smart power than send a soldier into harm’s way.

In addition to working on the ground, our investment in U.S. global leadership is an essential strategic component in a comprehensive foreign policy. When I worked for Gen. Tommy Franks at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, we focused on seeing the big picture. That’s why I believe slashing funding for these key programs would be especially dangerous right now, given the critical moment in which we find ourselves.

As our troops begin to draw down from Iraq and Afghanistan, we need skilled civilians who are ready, willing and able to handle post-conflict resolution. If this void goes unfilled, the fragile gains for which our military men and women fought so hard would simply slip away. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates made it clear: “Without development, we will not be successful in either Iraq or Afghanistan.”

So when politicians swing through Florida, making noise that leaves us feeling divided, let’s focus on what brings us together: a smart, efficient way to create jobs and keep our country safe. Supporting a strong and effective international affairs budget is a bipartisan path forward essential to our foreign policy in today’s interconnected world.