Re-establish Diplomacy as a Pillar of National Security:
The membership of the Florida Veterans for Common Sense asks that all elected members of Congress support full funding for diplomacy. Adequate funding for State Department and USAID programs agencies produces diplomatic alternatives to armed conflict.
Funding for Diplomacy Saves Blood and Treasure:
In 2013, General James Mattis, then head of US Central Command, made a statement that was as ominous as it is now famous: “If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition.” This statement expressed a reasoned understanding of the dynamic relationship between the US military and our diplomatic and foreign aid establishments around the world. Each plays an essential role in protecting US national security; they impact one another in sometimes dramatic ways, and proper balance between them is essential.
Diplomacy Needs a Strong National Defense:
Striking the proper balance is not always easy. On occasion it makes sense to emphasize one over the other. For example, an often repeated adage from antiquity states, if you want peace, prepare for war. But it appears the current Administration, questions the very legitimacy of diplomacy. Not to mention, its relationship to the claims and requirements of a robust national defense.
Diplomacy Needs More Investment:
At a time when former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, is informing Congress that “This is a moment when more investment in diplomacy and development is needed not less.” the current Administration’s federal budget requests dramatically reduce State Department/USAID Foreign Aid funding while significantly increasing the Pentagon budget.
The relative financial support for diplomacy versus the military has become dangerously unbalanced. Addressing this imbalance is a must. The U.S. must not risk facing situations where war could occur merely because diplomatic assets were inadequate to facilitate peaceful settlements of grievances.
At such a time as this, it is well to remember the vital peacekeeping accomplishments of US diplomacy since WWII. Such achievements include:
- creation of the United Nations;
- establishment of NATO;
- peaceful resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis; and more recently the
- Salt I, Salt II, Start I and Start II nuclear arms limitation treaties to name a few.
It would be difficult to measure the enormity of cost savings, in blood and treasure, which have accrued to the US as a result of these successful efforts to avoid war.
Without Diplomacy More War is Inevitable:
Proper funding of US diplomatic efforts is essential to achieving and maintaining secure peace in a turbulent world. Pursuing adequate diplomatic funding to undertake respected diplomatic efforts is a necessary before resorting to military action. War should only be reluctantly accepted as necessary in the most extreme situations, where US national security is unambiguously jeopardized and good faith diplomatic efforts have failed to resolve or neutralize those security threats.
Additional Reading
U.S. Global Leadership Council:
Out of Touch with America’s Interests
USGLC CEO on Amendment to Cut Diplomacy and Development
Philadelphia Enquirer:
With Trump budget cuts, U.S. would be less equipped to protect Americans here and abroad