According to The Boston Globe, U.S. military strategists have “learned the limits of force in Iraq and Afghanistan,” and have begun “rewriting decades-old military doctrine to place humanitarian missions on par with combat.”
Pentagon officials and military commanders have said humanitarian plans are being used to regain the trust of the international community and entice new allies.
Past humanitarian efforts in Iraq have been somewhat successful, but at times, results and action have not kept up with intentions. General instability and inconsistent humanitarian work have also stymied efforts.
Funding complicates matters, as well. The Pentagon has committed large sums of money to weapons, but the next president faces the challenge of allocating resources to humanitarian efforts, as well.
The U.S. military has been praised for its past humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and Indonesia after natural disasters, and some feel that altruism is the best way to build and maintain a positive relationship with international Muslim communities.
Others worry that without changes to the way military spending is dealt with by the government, a more humanitarian approach to foreign policy will never get off the ground.
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