'Foreign Policy Beyond the Pentagon"

Source: Walter Pincus, The Washington Post, February 9, 2009.

I quote:

Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, believes that the United States' foreign policy has become "too militarized."

But Mullen said in a speech last week that it could take 10 years or more before government departments other than Defense, such as State, Commerce, Treasury and Agriculture, are prepared to send employees overseas to assume roles now being played by the military in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots. Echoing a theme stressed by his boss, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Mullen told an audience at Princeton University last Thursday: "You've heard us, some of us and certainly me, talk about our foreign policy being too militarized. I believe that. And it's got to change."

Comment: It is a long time since I worked in the government and I am out of date. A decade ago, this was somewhat true. There were a lot of people in our government outside of the military working in international fields, but not enough given the globalization that had occurred. Perhaps more of a problem, there was little coordination or even sharing of information among Departments working internationally.

As far as I can figure out, the Bush administration cut back on the international activities of the "domestic" mission agencies, and has greatly expanded the role of the military not only in Iraq and Afghanistan but even in Africa.

Yes, health problems are global. Resource problems are global. Agriculture is global. Commerce is global. Our line agencies really should be taking part in global issue programs, and the National Security Council should incorporate the expertise of their personnel. JAD