The US Army released a new field manual on Monday that gives
nation-building the same top priority as major combat operations for the first
time. The Stability Operations Field
Manual is described by Army officials as a roadmap from conflict to peace.
“The greatest threats to our national security will not come
from emerging ambitious states but from nations unable or unwilling to meet the
basic needs and aspirations of their people,” the new manual states.
Derived from the Army’s experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, the manual provides
commanders and other personnel with a guide to delivering development,
reconstruction, and humanitarian aid in fragile war-torn nations. The manual follows a defense strategy
released in July that said military operations should play a supporting role
for “soft power” initiatives that would undermine militancy.
The vision of the US military handing out even more
humanitarian aid makes some nonprofits nervous.
James Bishop, vice president of humanitarian policy and practice at
InterAction, the association of nongovernmental organizations (NGO), said his
biggest concern with the manual was that NGOs remain independent and free to
provide aid to all nations, whether they are sympathetic to the US or not. He was also concerned that the military not
refer to NGOs as “partners” in the manual.
The military agreed to this and to wording requests from the
State Department and the US Agency for International Development. These requests all highlight the anxiety with
which many view the “militarization” of aid and diplomatic functions. A recent report by the American Academy
of Diplomacy echoed such concerns and argued that the authority over such
programs should be moved from the Department of Defense to the Department of
State.
Not only does the military lack the appropriate training and
resources to undertake aid and diplomatic functions, critics argue that such
work should not be undertaken by those in uniform because it could alienate
those who don’t agree with the US
policy or are simply frightened of soldiers.
Other critics worried that the military is already stretched
too thin and will lose focus on its combat activities if it is too involved in
humanitarian activities. Lt. Col. Steve
Leonard, who helped draft the new manual, said, “There’s a time and a place for
using overwhelming combat power…commanders have to be able to turn on a dime,
one minute fighting, the next minute building an economy.
One aim that didn’t make it into the manual is spreading
democracy to the rest of the world.
Ultimately, the Army decided that such a goal was unrealistic. “We have to step back and say it’s not about
democracy, it’s about effective governance and a stronger economy and
well-being for the people,” Leonard said.
“If they develop democracy, that’s great, but they have to have a
government that suits their culture.”
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