The Truman National Security Project just released a great new ad that hits on something we Progressives have always known; military power is just one tool for global leadership and what made America the leader of the free world was international development.
They tell the story so well, I'll let them do it. This is a really great ad (and it's only a minute and fifteen seconds):
The folks at Truman recently launched a campaign, Make US Strong, aimed at pushing back against those who seek to cut the amount of international aid the US gives around the world.
Those opponents of international development don't understand the point that this video so eloquently states. Our security depends on us helping other countries stand up. In order to combat the fertile ground that sows terrorists, we need to give those people hope. Give them schools and roads and jobs and they won't be as inclined to join up with the Taliban and blow us up.
It's no surprise to anyone on DailyKos that the conservatives who are against international development don't remember recent history. We rebuilt Eupore and Japan after WWII and now those are our strongest allies. For the sake of a Koch Brothers stamp of approval, they would have the United States pursue an international strategy with one hand tied behind their back. Despite what they think, we know we cannot live in a world where we only engage in international relations through the military. We need carrots and sticks and we need to remember the lesson the Greatest Generation knew -- helping stabilize foreign nations, provides us security at home.
And it's not just us DFHs that know this. Such noted liberals as David Petraeus and Bob Gates have endorsed increasing the State Department's international development budget, precisely because they know it will keep our military out off the battlefield.
And finally, if we aren't building roads and schools and infrastructure in these far off corners of the world, we know exactly who will step in: China. China is our strategic adversary for global leadership and as Wal-Mart shoves more of their goods down our throats, we need to not give them a golden opportunity to have more influence on the world stage.
So head over to Make US Strong, check out the blog, sign up for their email list and check out the awesome our that one of their people is doing -- cycling across the country to raise awareness of international development!