America's Global Development Capacity Act

Floor Speech

Mr. DURBIN. Earlier this year, President Obama announced a new policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan beginning to really focus important resources and attention on those countries--resources that were, tragically, diverted during the war in Iraq.

I was honored today to be invited for a lunch with President Zardari of Pakistan and President Karzai of Afghanistan. They are now working together--and that was not always the case--to stop the spread of the Taliban and al-Qaida. They are starting to do things which I think should have been done a long time ago. For example, I was surprised to learn when I visited Afghanistan a little over a year ago that we had fewer than 10 agricultural experts in that country. We know that country, which was once a prolific exporter of agricultural products, has now descended to a point where the major export is poppy and heroin, which, of course, fuels the underground economy and fuels the Taliban in their efforts to bring terrorism to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Well, to learn that we have fewer than 10 agricultural experts working on the ground in Afghanistan to try to change this was disappointing. This administration, the new Obama administration, has made a commitment to raise that number to over 50 in a hurry, as they should, so that we will be able to counsel those in agriculture in Afghanistan about lucrative, profitable crops that will not be feeding terrorism. That is one of the things that needs to be done, not just the military side but the economic side as well.

We understand--and Secretary Clinton has said such--that if we are going to be successful in Afghanistan and Pakistan, we have to bring this effort down to ground level, not just to suppress the violence but to make certain we build a civil economy and a civil government that can sustain democratic and free growth in those two countries. I was glad to be part of that effort today. I believe there is a lot more to do. I join with Senators KIT BOND of Missouri, PATTY MURRAY of Washington, and CHRIS DODD of Connecticut, as well as SHELDON WHITEHOUSE of Rhode Island, in introducing a bill that is called the Increasing America's Global Development Capacity Act, to improve our Nation's capacity to undertake global development activities.

The bill would triple the number of USAID Foreign Service officers by 2012. If we implement this legislation, in 3 years USAID will have 3,000 talented, committed Americans serving in the world's most difficult locations, helping to improve the lives of others, and showing the world what America is all about. I would much rather beef up the USAID than run the risk of sending more American soldiers to face the dangers of war in those foreign countries. I think we can help win over the hearts and minds of people around the world if we have the right American ambassador in a civilian capacity using diplomacy and development as major tools.

The President's strategy wisely emphasizes training the Afghan army and building up the police; a renewed effort to deal with the Taliban's safe havens in Pakistan; and a long overdue civilian surge in State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development personnel, with particular emphases on diplomacy, agriculture, good governance, and job creation.

It is unfortunate that more than 7 years after the war in Afghanistan began we are only now providing sufficient civilian resources and experts to help win the peace in Afghanistan.

The Bush administration neglected to focus on post-war needs in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Once our brave military men and women accomplished their early military goals, few if any plans existed for significant investments in strengthening critical economic, governance, and rule of law institutions.

The results have been sadly obvious. Our military has had to stay longer than anticipated while we play catch up on these basic building blocks that are needed for any true long-term stability.

This failure to invest in and deploy our civilian experts has placed an unfair burden on our military and their families.

Our military leaders have recognized the critical nature of the civilian development and diplomatic component of American engagement abroad.

Secretary of Defense Gates has said it clearly:

What is clear to me is that there is a need for a dramatic increase in spending on the civilian instruments of national security--diplomacy, strategic communications, foreign assistance, civic action, and economic reconstruction and development.

He continued;

One of the most important lessons of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is that military success is not sufficient to win: economic development, institution-building and the rule of law, promoting internal reconciliation, good governance, providing basic services to the people, training and equipping indigenous military and police forces, strategic communications, and more--these, along with security, are essential ingredients for long-term success.

Secretary Clinton has similarly said:

In order for us to pursue an ambitious foreign policy to both solve and manage problems, to address our interests and advance our values, we have to reform both State and USAID. And to do so, we have to create a Department and an agency that are funded the right way, where the people doing this work have the tools and authorities that they need. This is particularly important in dangerous regions like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Our Nation's ability to help others improve their lives is a critical component of American foreign policy. Development initiatives help stem HIV/AIDS and other global pandemics; provide food, clean water, and sanitation to the world's poor; strengthen democratic processes and institutions; and foster economic growth.

These efforts demonstrate our leadership and concern, foster goodwill and an appreciation of American values, and provide alternatives to the despair that can lead others to turn against us.

That is why a recent story in the New York Times about Afghanistan is so tragic. The article's title ``G.I.'s Filling Civilian Gap to Rebuild Afghanistan'' says it all.

We now have a President who has formed a sound policy for Afghanistan, but we simply do not have the civilian international development experts necessary to fill the civilian needs in Afghanistan.

This is tragic.

Think about after the attacks of September 11 how many Americans wanted to serve their country, whether in the military, in Americorps programs, or in the Foreign Service.

We should have taken advantage of that groundswell of American idealism and determination to bring some of our brightest minds into the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development where they could use their talents and desire for public service to make a difference in the lives of others around the world and to help bring stability to faraway places.

The need is stark. Take USAID alone. In the 1960s when President Kennedy launched the agency, it had more than 5,000 Foreign Service officers. Today, with obvious needs around the world from Afghanistan to Iraq to Congo, it has just over 1,000.

Its budget in real dollars has shrunk by almost one quarter.

That is right. At a time when people on both sides of the aisle, as well as in the military and civilian leadership of our government, agree on the great need for such civilian engagement, our lead international development agency has seen its key staff cut by 80 percent and its funding by more than 25 percent.

We have this all backwards.

This increase in development professionals would be a first step towards rebalancing the three pillars of our foreign policy and national security--development, defense, and diplomacy, and would go a long way in helping face some of our country's biggest global challenges.

I urge support for this bill.

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