War Corps

PBS is airing a program “Inside America's Empire” in the "America at a Crossroads" series. This program promotes a role for the US military in providing humanitarian aid in third-world countries. The absurdity of this approach is demonstrated within the program itself but overlooked by the enthusiastic host. For example, an American soldier in Mali claims that handing out cheap eyeglasses or other trinkets will produce long-term gains in America's reputation. More likely, the gratitude and transient “respect” will transfer to next person who provides slightly dearer trinkets. In the succinct words of the philosophers, “can't buy me love” and “what have you done for me, lately?”. Near the end of that piece, an American soldier says with obvious uncertainty that "someone" would provide the clean water the people need. Surely this would have been a better use of the thousands of dollars it cost the American taxpayer to deliver the cheap eyeglasses through the military channels.

Only one comment in the program addressed alternatives, for example aid delivered by civilians such as the Peace Corps. Peaceful alternatives were dismissed by the claim that these places needed "security" first. In fact, one would have to conclude from the show's examples that any place hoping for aid needed “insecurity” first. The best advice to a poor region would be to foster an anti-western, preferably islamic, insurgency. That would be the most certain way to attract America's attention and help.