re: "Diplomacy Lite, Military Heavy"

Patricia at WhirledView discussed getting the balance right.

Money quote(s):

"Why is American foreign policy so diplomatically light but so militarily heavy? No, I’m not imagining things. And it’s been that way for decades – George W. Bush and Dick Cheney just pushed the envelope further in that direction after 9/11."

"Today the problem is - because of continued over-reliance on the military to solve all foreign policy problems - the US Armed Forces have been ordered to assume roles and engage in tasks for which they are eminently unsuited, unskilled and ill-prepared. Unfortunately, the State Department and what’s left of USAID have been so weakened over the years to be unable to take them on successfully either."


"(T)he State Department, USAID and whatever little else is left of the battered civilian side of America’s foreign affairs bureaucracy have too often demonstrated their inability to pull their own weight. They cannot be rebuilt overnight. This will take time, considerable funds, enlightened management, a major cultural/personality change in the Department itself and long term dedication."

"Congress has just agreed to increase the number of Foreign Service Officers by 1,000 (700 at State and 300 at USAID) next year. That’s all to the good. But what about the Peace Corps and where will those 700 newbies at State be assigned? Stamping visas every one?
In reality, these projected increases are 1) a drop in the bucket (the good news is that the phrase that there are more members of military bands than US Foreign Service Officers has finally become part of the vernacular) when the State Department still can’t manage its personnel well; 2) the Foreign Service Act of 1980 continues to force out too many competent officers at the peak of their careers for no good reason; and 3) it takes years (like about 20) to develop a seasoned officer with the requisite skills and foreign language ability to function well overseas. Just in time, as it turns out, for many to be retired prematurely."

&

"If only the State Department powers-that-be were half as clever as the US military and took American foreign affairs interests to the state and local levels not to mention into the halls of Congress. But I have scant evidence that State understands the importance of developing a domestic constituency."