2.3: International Interests
Advance and Protect U.S. International Interests Other Information:
Although U.S. leaders agree on the ultimate goal of promoting global peace, prosperity, and stability, and spent over $35.6
billion on international affairs in fiscal year 2005 (see fig. 11), intense debate is occurring over how to achieve that goal.
Conflict interventions to make or keep the peace, stabilize failed states, and end terrorist regimes have dominated recent
U.S. foreign policy actions. These interventions are sometimes controversial, both domestically and internationally. They
also are often costly. For example, from fiscal years 2003 through 2006, the U.S. government appropriated about $310 billion
to support U.S. stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, including over $34 billion for reconstruction assistance
alone. The United States also spent more than $1.6 billion in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2004. Moreover, the administration
has requested about an additional $51 billion to support U.S. stabilization and reconstruction operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
in fiscal year 2007. Such interventions are likely to continue to play a prominent role in stabilizing regions used as staging
areas for efforts to undermine or threaten U.S. interests. U.S. foreign aid to developing countries is critical for advancing
U.S. economic and security interests. For example, the United States supports countries trying to adopt democratic and free
market structures through developmental and humanitarian programs as well as rule-of-law assistance and measures to improve
local governance capacity. These countries and regions in transition have combined populations in excess of 2 billion, and
they face complex development problems. In addition, the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s mission is to reduce poverty by
supporting sustainable, transformative economic growth in developing countries that create and maintain sound policy environments.
Ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of these programs is important because the extent to which countries can successfully
make the transition to and maintain democratic governments and market economies will significantly affect U.S. security and
economic objectives and, ultimately, the U.S. budget. Protecting U.S. strategic interests in the face of new tests has presented
challenges for alliances established decades ago and raised questions about how the United States should respond to shifting
needs and priorities. Traditional alliances continue to evolve. For example, membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
is expanding to the east and south, and its missions are broadening to include responding to security threats and crises outside
of its members’ territories. The United States continues to provide bilateral security assistance and pursue programs that
counter transnational threats, like drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and infectious diseases, in order
to foster international security. U.S. participation in multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations, is sometimes
debated when questions arise about these organizations’ effectiveness and their ability to advance U.S. interests. Multilateral
organizations facilitate international cooperation in many areas, including promoting economic and social development; responding
to security and humanitarian challenges; and addressing transnational threats, such as a potential avian flu pandemic. The
United States, as a member of these organizations, has advocated improved accountability and management. Conducting foreign
affairs is becoming more complicated as the lines between domestic and international issues blur and change how America does
business. About 35 federal agencies have around 19,000 U.S. staff assigned to overseas embassies, and most federal policies
have international aspects. The Department of State plays a key role in coordinating U.S. policy and programs for regions,
countries, or multilateral organizations. To carry out its responsibilities, the Department of State operates more than 260
embassies and consulates in over 185 countries. The size and composition of the department’s overseas infrastructure and human
capital are being questioned, particularly in light of security concerns. Moreover, attacks on the United States prompted
a rethinking of U.S. public diplomacy and public affairs activities and ways to better understand, inform, and influence foreign
publics and policymakers. The threat of terrorist attacks on U.S. facilities and personnel overseas has shifted the focus
of many U.S. agencies’ international activities and programs. For example, the practices for granting entry into the United
States and the need to block the entry of terrorists and criminals while at the same time facilitating entry for legitimate
travel key to the nation’s prosperity have changed. Similarly, the terrorist attacks against the United States and interventions
in Afghanistan and Iraq have given rise to new U.S.-led coalitions to pursue military, political, and economic efforts to
erode terrorists’ networks and their sources of support. Finally, the continuing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
has received heightened attention because of concerns that terrorists or a rogue regime could threaten the United States with
nuclear, chemical, or biological attack.
Indicator(s):
|
