After listening to an interview with the new USAID Director, Dr. Rajiv Shah, on NPR, I agree that there is a moral imperative to provide development assistance when invited and in partnership with a host country or in terms of humanitarian crisis even against a government's desire. I also agree that sustainable development cannot occur where there is not security and that security forces can help to protect development efforts in their infancy.
Yet, I feel that development aid is often a tool in manipulating a government or part of a country's population in a politically convenient way for our country, especially when we have a significant military presence in that country. I worry about the people that get caught between our well-intentioned development efforts and our military agenda.
I think that the new Director sounds very calm and sure of his development philosophy at this early point. My hope is that he reflects back to his early development philosophy on a regular basis to ensure he is staying true to his own morals and values.
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