February 09, 2009
RE: Foreign Aid Reform Should Re-assert Civilian Control
The Honorable Howard Berman
Chairman
Committee on Foreign Affairs
2170 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Berman,
We appreciate your recent comments on the expanded influence of the Department of Defense (DoD) into activities traditionally undertaken by U.S. civilian foreign policy agencies. As you have rightly noted, “We have both militarized and privatized our diplomacy and foreign assistance, because we don't have enough skilled personnel to play the role that historically they played.”
Increased personnel and funding for diplomacy and the administration of foreign aid are needed urgently to meet the challenges of the 21st century and improve our standing in the world. Returning civilian functions that have migrated to the DoD to civilian agencies is critical. As the DoD has been granted greater authorities to provide reconstruction, development, civic, military and security assistance, the role of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the State Department in making U.S. foreign policy have diminished.
Broad new authorities allowing the DoD increased discretion in determining which countries or groups receive military and security assistance are of particular concern to us. As you well know, the State Department has traditionally determined which countries receive military and security aid consistent with long-term foreign policy goals and in considering the recipient countries’ record on human rights, human trafficking, weapons proliferation and religious freedom.
Diplomatic control over military and security assistance has been safeguarded for sound policy reasons. While some initiatives, such as the 1206 global train and equip program, require concurrence with the Secretary of State before DoD decisions may go forward, we believe this process is skewed toward a willingness to promote a military relationship with too many countries—at the expense of long-term foreign policy interests, including the promotion of good and democratic governance.
As you work to rewrite the Foreign Assistance Act and enact comprehensive foreign aid reform, we encourage your leadership in re-asserting civilian control over foreign aid, including all military and security aid. In the future, we hope you will do all you can to ensure that U.S. foreign assistance will be funded through the State Department and Foreign Operations budget to ensure proper vetting of recipient countries and oversight by the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Again, thank you for your leadership and for speaking out on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Colby Goodman
Policy Director
Military, Security, and Police Transfers
Amnesty International USA
William D. Hartung
Director, Arms and Security Initiative
New America Foundation
Lisa Haugaard*
Executive Director
Latin America Working Group
Adam Isacson
Director of Programs
Center for International Policy
Joy Olson
Executive Director
Washington Office on Latin America
Fr. Rocco Puopolo
Executive Director
Africa Faith and Justice Network
Stephen Rickard
Executive Director
Open Society Policy Center
Susan Shaer
Executive Director
Women’s Action for New Directions
Joe Volk
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Emira Woods
Co-Director
Foreign Policy In Focus
Krista Riddley
Director of Humanitarian Policy
Oxfam America
*Individual endorsement
