The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing to discuss the role of our nation’s military in foreign policy. In particular, the hearing focused on the evolving relationship between the Department of Defense and the State Department in dealing with foreign affairs.
Both Deputy Secretary John Negroponte and Under Secretary for Defense Eric Edelman agreed that the role of the two departments were becoming increasingly intertwined, and both are adapting well to the new changes. Edelman said that unique military situations like those in Iraq and Afghanistan require military personnel to assume roles with which they are not accustomed. He went on to say that traditional state conflict is no longer the only form of international conflict, but rather combatants within the states are providing difficulties. These situations become more complicated when the governments of these combatants themselves are US allies.
This shift in relations is exemplified by the creation of groups like United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). Both engage in humanitarian and military duties. However, several members of the panel expressed concern over the “militarization” of foreign policy, which could jeopardize America’s global image and effectiveness. Edelman and Negroponte remained confident that both departments could maintain their roles without such issues, and asked the committee for increased funding for the fiscal year 2009 to expand their efforts.
