Gates Urges Better Security Assistance For U.s. Partner Nations
Building the capacity of partner countries to govern and ensure their own security with equipment, training and other support is even more urgent than it was during the Cold War, Gates said as he accepted a distinguished service award from the Nixon Center, a policy research group established by former President Richard Nixon in 1994.
“Unlike the Cold War, the most likely and lethal threats, an American city poisoned or reduced to rubble, will likely emanate from fractured or failing states, rather than aggressor states,” Gates said at an awards dinner in Washington tonight.
While the U.S. is unlikely to repeat missions such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where it forced regime change and followed with “nation-building under fire,” similar operations probably will be necessary on a smaller scale, Gates said.
The appeal is part of an effort by Gates to change the Pentagons focus from traditional foes and types of warfare to what he says are wars the U.S. is more likely to fight.
In budgets and the recently released Quadrennial Defense Review, the Defense Department and the Obama administration laid out a strategy based on the experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, targeting threats such as terrorism and the spread of nuclear weapons.
Effectiveness, Credibility
“In these situations, the effectiveness and credibility of the United States will only be as good as the effectiveness, credibility and sustainability of our local partners,” Gates said tonight.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, the U.S. faced delays in trying to reimburse Pakistan for its anti-terrorism efforts and in developing Afghanistans security forces, Gates said.
Efforts have improved, he said, citing Army brigades designed to advise and assist the Iraqi Security Forces. The Air Force has a fleet of light fighters and transport aircraft for training and aiding local partners, and the U.S. Navy bolsters African countries ability to combat smuggling and piracy, he said.
The Pentagon five years ago got authority to provide immediate aid in urgent situations, with concurrence from the secretary of state, Gates said. The authority has been used to assist the Lebanese Army, the Pakistani Special Forces, and the navy and maritime security forces of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
At the same time, the programs spurred debate within administrations and Congress on the Pentagons role in development aid, he said.
Gates said he has sent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a proposal to set up pooled funding to help other nations strengthen their security and prevent conflicts.