OPINION:
All Americans should be justifiably proud of the extraordinary U.S. military operation that brought Osama bin Laden to justice. Regardless of political party or whatever else may divide us, this is a moment when all of us can come together. The success of this operation is a victory for freedom, and it demonstrates the importance of the United States using all of its tools of global engagement to keep our nation safe.
As we hear more and more about the details of the operation and the exceptional courage shown by members of our military, we are ever more grateful for the service of our brave soldiers. As a former defense secretary, I believe part of respecting and honoring our military is listening carefully to their strategic advice. After all, these men have seen the threats we face in today’s complex and interconnected world firsthand.
When it comes to how we combat today’s threats, our military leaders have spoken with one voice. Top leaders from Gen. H. David Petraeus to Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen to my successor, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, have told us repeatedly that our civilian-led development and diplomatic operations are critical parts of our national security and we need to continue to provide them with the resources they need to be effective.
Unfortunately, the death of bin Laden does not mean our nation is secure. There are still challenges ahead, especially in Afghanistan and Pakistan and, in particular, with the drawdown of troops in Iraq. As our civilian operations are taking control in that country, we must ensure that we have the right tools in place to finish the job and honor the work of our troops that has brought us to this point.
The right tools require the right resources, though, and that is why we need a strong and effective international affairs budget. Contrary to popular belief, our civilian-led programs make up just 1 percent of our federal budget but they deliver an enormous bang for the buck for the American taxpayer. These programs are also a tremendous benefit and partner to our men in uniform.
Programs funded by the international affairs budget fight terrorism on the front lines, prevent pandemic disease from spreading to our shores and build more stable societies in the most dangerous corners of the world. Our diplomatic and development programs can prevent crises before they occur, so we do not need to send our greatest treasure - our brave soldiers - into harm’s way. As Mr. Gates has said, “Development is a lot cheaper than sending soldiers.”
Back in 1981, President Reagan said, “The ultimate importance to the United States of our security and development assistance programs cannot be exaggerated. The programs and activities … enable the United States to continue its contribution to the achievement of a secure and stable international environment.” His words are still true today.
So while we honor our service members and celebrate justice being achieved in the case of one of the most wanted terrorists of all time, we must continue to be vigilant when it comes to our national security and ensure that we have all the tools we need to meet the global challenges the United States faces. In today’s complex world, even post-bin Laden, keeping our nation safe means investing in development and diplomacy alongside defense.
Frank Carlucci served as secretary of defense in the Reagan administration from 1987 to 1989 and as national security adviser from 1986 to 1987. He is a member of the Advisory Council for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.
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