Foreign policy in the 21st century is more than massive firepower; it’s the adroit use of defense, diplomacy, and development. Yesterday at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, Gov Romney addressed ‘development.’

What Romney calls a “Prosperity Pact” is a re-labeling [...]]]> Written by Andrew Lubin, Foreign & Defense Analysis

Foreign policy in the 21^st century is more than massive firepower; it’s the adroit use of defense, diplomacy, and development. Yesterday at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, Gov Romney addressed ‘development.’

What Romney calls a “Prosperity Pact” is a re-labeling of the same basic principles of foreign aid as practiced by the past Obama, Bush, and Clinton administrations while ignoring how defense and diplomacy make development possible. Stabilizing weak states provides both stability and potential export markets; as does combating drug shipments, WMD threats, and nuclear proliferation, responding to humanitarian disasters, and training foreign military and police creates partnerships that improve regional security and export markets.

Most Americans would be surprised to know how little is actually spent on foreign aid. When asked on the street, guesses often range from 10-25% of our budget-which in times of massive deficits would be difficult to defend  – except the actual figure is 1.4%.

It’s called the International Affairs Budget, and in actual terms, 1.4% equates to$ 48 billion in 2011. This funds the State Dept and every aid and assistance program except for the Peace Corps (which costs only $ 342 million). Most Americans would be equally surprised at how the money is spent; it’s not spent on give-aways and abortion programs as claimed by the Tea Party and other isolationist groups; but instead includes military aid to Israel, a $ 100,000 grant that led to $ 61 million of US exports to Morocco, and Counternarcotics programs in Mexico – as a businessman; Gov Romney surely appreciates how the multiplier effect of that $ 100,000 US Trade & Development Agency grant to a small New Jersey company.

But what Romney still doesn’t understand is that trade will not happen in a vacuum; businessmen only invest in countries where the laws don’t change overnight and warlords don’t steal goods from the docks. While his Prosperity Pact guidelines state that the U.S. will provide aid to developing countries that remove barriers to investment and trade; it’s the International Affairs Budget that builds rule of law so countries can fight corruption, have free and fair elections, and have governments based on democratic principles creating the infrastructure that Romney-the-businessman takes for granted.

Only then will US businessmen invest and export into these growing markets

Six billion+ people live in the 3^rd world or developing world, and those countries are far from easy business opportunities. While Romney acknowledged the growth of microloans and microfinance companies, in a separate memo his campaign said microloans are only a “poverty alleviation strategy” and called for a “much greater focus” for small and medium-sized businesses that are too big for microfinance. That’s a shame because the entrepreneurs Romney talks about empowering are usually small groups of Zambian women with sewing machines making clothing in Peruvian ladies selling lunches to miners; the larger companies are usually the corrupt government companies stifling those fledgling entrepreneurs.

Yesterday’s speech was a good start for Romney; his “Prosperity Pact” is an important step in the 3-part program of “defense – diplomacy – development” so necessary in the 21^st Century. But as former Marine Corps Commandant Gen Michael Hagee said “This strategic approach will only be effective if all three are coherent, coordinated, and adequately resourced.”

We’ll be looking forward to the Governor’s thoughts on how – or if – he intends to implement a foreign and defense strategy that recognizes the unclear and muddled world in which these six billion potential consumers live.

Photo Courtesy of CNN 

Janessa checks in with us after crossing the border into Virginia….we’re ready, and waiting, Janessa!

Janessa will hold an event tonight at 6:00 pm at Parish Market featuring [...]]]> As Cycle For Security’s Janessa Goldbeck makes her way up the eastern seaboard, she continues to make headlines.  Today, Janessa was featured live on the CBS Better Morning’s Atlanta show.  Watch Janessa make the case that international development keeps America safe and strong.

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Janessa will hold an event tonight at 6:00 pm at Parish Market featuring City Council Member Aaron Watson and various community leaders from Atlanta.  The event is open to the public.

John R. Marks III
My View

With U.S. troops finally out of Iraq and our involvement in Afghanistan perhaps coming to a close, our nation begins a new chapter in its relationship with the rest of the world. Yet many Americans are uncertain [...]]]> John Marks: Local security starts with foreign policy

April 5, 2012

John R. Marks III
My View

With U.S. troops finally out of Iraq and our involvement in Afghanistan perhaps coming to a close, our nation begins a new chapter in its relationship with the rest of the world. Yet many Americans are uncertain about the role we will play and how we plan to maintain a position of global leadership.

America’s role won’t be determined in our embassy in China, or on the front lines in Afghanistan or at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Global leadership begins at home — here in Tallahassee and in towns and neighborhoods across the country.

Each of us must have an interest in America’s security. Each of us is affected by global events, and I am proud to be working with the Make US Strong campaign and the Truman National Security Project on this important issue. As a member of the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, I am also working with other mayors to address global challenges and their effect upon our cities.

Our world has become vastly more challenging. The focus of America’s national security policy has shifted from the dominant threat of the Soviet Union during the Cold War to a multitude of weaker, smaller regimes and elusive terrorist groups. In addition, climate change is raising sea levels, creating drought and increasing food shortages. As if this weren’t enough, diseases are becoming more resistant to antibiotics and continue to spread throughout the developing world.

At the same time, technological advances have created an increasingly interconnected world. Goods, services, information and people travel across borders with more ease than ever before. While globalization may offer a societal benefit, it also means that discord in the developing world more readily affects us here at home. Strife in countries such as Somalia and Yemen breeds new generations of terrorists who can undermine our own security — directly or indirectly — here in Tallahassee.

Clearly, these dangers threaten global stability and our safety at home, but a lesson from the Greatest Generation can provide guidance. As an officer in the Air Force during the 1970s, I witnessed the success of the Marshall Plan and the strong ties it forged between the United States and other nations. The Greatest Generation knew that winning World War II wasn’t enough; we needed to rebuild Europe and Japan. They realized that the best way to ensure global stability and security at home was to take the lead in development abroad.

International development programs assist other nations in building prosperity, establishing responsible, transparent governments, and developing quality education for their children. Development is not charity, but a long-term investment in global stability that keeps Americans safe.

International development, such as building roads, water-treatment plants and schools, is much cheaper than sending soldiers abroad or dealing with the aftermath of terrorist attacks. Here in Tallahassee, we know that after-school programs for kids can keep them from joining gangs and entering a life of crime. In places such as the Horn of Africa, building schools keeps those kids from joining al-Qaida.

The future presents daunting challenges, but as Americans we have the ability, more than anyone else in the world, to shape the course of the 21st century. Let’s honor the legacy of the Greatest Generation by following their example, investing in international development to maintain global stability and keep America safe.

Additional Facts
TODAY’S EVENT

Today at 6 p.m. at Sittig Hall, 301 S. Bronough St., Mayor John Marks and state Reps. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda and Alan Williams will welcome U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate Janessa Goldbeck. She is bicycling on the 4,200-mile Cycle For Security Tour, part of the Truman Project’s Make Us Strong campaign, a movement dedicated to promoting international development. Go to: http://makeusstrong.com/cycleforsecurity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John R. Marks III is mayor of Tallahassee. Contact him at John.Marks@talgov.com.