U.S. Military Humanitarian Aid Provides Long-Term Benefits

Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says U.S. military forces are helping people every day in all parts of the world in unconventional ways: building hospitals, digging water wells and administering medical aid to those in need.

Many American soldiers, who once thought they would see combat, are not using their weapons, Rumsfeld said, but are building new structures in places like Djibouti and delivering urgent medial care where there is none.  Rumsfeld told Defense Department employees May 19 that tremendous advantages accrue from U.S. humanitarian assistance that the military extends not only in Africa and the Middle East, but also in Asia and the Pacific.

Even though the primary focus of U.S. military forces has to be on preparation and readiness for conventional warfare, Rumsfeld said there is no reason why that same force “ought not to be used from time to time” for other missions such as hurricane relief in the Western Hemisphere or the provision of emergency supplies, such as food or blankets, to areas of the world that suffer a natural disaster.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Peter Pace, appearing with the secretary, said the best qualities of the United States are demonstrated when U.S. military forces save lives and property as they did in 2005 by providing tsunami relief to Indonesia and earthquake aid to Pakistan. 

Offering much-needed humanitarian assistance allows the military to demonstrate its passion, concern and “willingness to reach out and help others,” Pace said, adding, “That’s a great thing for our armed forces to do.”

Carrying out humanitarian assistance, whether rebuilding Afghanistan or providing medical supplies to Honduras, Pace said, promotes understanding and goodwill.  “It is well worth the investment of time and energy to carry out these good works,” he added.  (See related article.)

Pace and Rumsfeld made their comments during a Defense Department Town Hall meeting at the Pentagon.  They periodically meet with department employees to listen to their concerns and answer questions about current topics.

PATROLLING BORDERS

One questioner asked about the role U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve forces would play in patrolling the border between the United States and Mexico.  In reply, Rumsfeld said there is much misinformation circulating about the plan to use these forces temporarily to back up the existing Border Patrol.

He said 6,000 members of the Guard and Reserves would be deployed in 2006, and only 3,000 in 2007, to do missions they normally would practice as part of their annual training.  The secretary said they might be assigned to work on construction projects or to guide unmanned aerial vehicles, for example, but “they’re not going to be out with a gun standing on the border shooting at people who are trying to come across the border.”  (See related article.)

Rumsfeld said these forces also might help set up fencing along the border.  “We may be doing some fencing in the Yuma Range or the Barry Goldwater Range,” he said, “where a number of people trying to get into our country have died because of difficulties they’ve had getting in.”                          

The two ranges, located in southwest Arizona and southeastern California, are high-hazard training and weapons testing areas for the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps.