The Foreign Service Journal, June 2006

opment and diplomacy. It is the latter that I wish to comment on, as I feel this approach may undermine the objectives that it seeks to achieve. There are many benefits to devel- opment, one of which is that it lays the groundwork for better diplomatic relationships. It can also help move developing countries toward better governance, stability, prosperity and health. Lastly, it is humanitarian to assist those in need with short-term and long-term succor. I was immensely pleased when, under USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios, development became one of “The Three Ds” — Defense, Diplo- macy and Development — confirm- ing that, at last, development in its own right was being recognized. When we prioritize development for its own sake, we help recipient nations achieve both their goals and our own. They are less likely to breed terrorism and conflict. Prosperity down the road leads them to be better trading partners. Control of their epidemics helps us control ours. But when development is used as a tool of diplomacy, the nature of the work and the outcomes are different. When development assistance be- comes the carrot (a prize for govern- ments that cooperate), and the stick (to be removed from those who don’t cooperate), objectives become short- term, high-cost and high-profile, and have the appearance of governments co-opting governments, rather than people helping people. Faith in aid’s continuity and sustainability is lost, as the criteria for who are our friends or enemies become increasingly arbi- trary, and can shift with the winds of successive administrations. If the U.S. can maintain a constant, independent development arm of its foreign assistance in the countries that most need it and show the most promise of success, without putting it on the table in diplomatic discussions, I believe we can achieve our goals just as constantly and consistently. U.S. foreign-policy makers need to priori- tize development objectives indepen- dently from diplomatic objectives in order to achieve both. Rachel Cintrón Public Health and Nutrition officer USAID/Kenya Smart Savings Congratulations on Steve Honley’s excellent article on the Thrift Savings Plan (FS Know-How, April). The J U N E 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 7 L E T T E R S